Ekushey Book Fair preparations afoot

Md Moniruzzaman :
Preparations are afoot for the month long ‘Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2024’, scheduled to begin on its traditional date, the first day of February this year, to welcome thousands of book lovers.

The Bangla Academy, the organizer of the month-long gala festival, is making all out efforts to hold the book fair, also known as the writer-reader-publisher reunion, on the Suhrawardy Udyan and Bangla Academy premises.

The structure layout of this year’s book fair remains the same like the previous year.

However, there may be some changes in the entrance and exit gates due to the Metro Rail Station near TSC of Dhaka University (DU), according to the Bangla Academy. Every year Bangla Academy constructs book fair stalls and pavilions with the support of various event managements, but in view of their non-cooperation and criticism, Bangla Academy has taken the full responsibility of the fair this year.

While visiting the fair ground on Friday, it was seen that the construction of the stalls fence was in progress and the stall makers passing their busy time at the fair venue.

Ahad Hossain, who was making stalls at the Suhrawardy Udyan, said, “We have been working at the fair venue for last ten days. At least 50 percent of the works have already been finished. The rest work will be finished within the time hopefully.”

The lottery for distributing spaces among publishing houses and organisations will be held on January 23.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given her consent to attend the opening ceremony,” Member Secretary of the Book Fair Committee Dr KM Muzahidul Islam said.