The month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2024 is set to begin today (February 1) at Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan premises as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the country's largest book fair this afternoon.
"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the fair at 3 pm tomorrow," said Bangla Academy Director General poet Mohammad Nurul Huda yesterday.
The premier will also confer the Bangla Academy Literary Award-2023 on the winners along with unveiling the covers of some books including 'Collected Works of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: Volume-2', published by Bangla Academy.
The theme of this year's book fair is "Paro Boi, Garo Desh: Bangabandhur Bangladesh (Read Book, build country: Bangabandhu's Bangladesh) and the Bangla Academy is organizing the fair.
A total of 937 stalls have been allocated to 635 organizations on the book fair. The authorities have allotted 173 stalls to 120 organizations on the Bangla Academy ground and 764 stalls to 515 organizations at the Suhrawardy Udyan.
A total of 37 pavilions have also been allocated this year.
Last year, a total of 901 stalls were allocated in favour of 601 organisations.
The entire work of the fair is being done by Bangla Academy alone to avoid any criticism, said Member Secretary of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair Committee Dr KM Muzahidul Islam, adding, "Almost 95 percent work will be done by tomorrow morning".
"In the previous years, some event management companies were involved in fair arrangements which faced some criticism last year", said Muzahidul.
Along with cultural programmes and month-long seminars, there will be arrangements for children and teenagers which include drawing, music and recitation competitions.
Stall allotment for old and newly enlisted publications was accomplished through a digitalised lottery system on January 23, said the organisers.
Like the previous years, the main stage of the fair will be on the Bangla Academy premises while book unwrapping and 'Lekhak Bolchi' stages will be set up on Suhrawardi Udyan premises, said Mujahidul.
'Shishu Chattar' has also been set up in Sadhu Shanga area beside the Ramna Kali Temple.
The book fair will remain open for all from 3 pm to 9 pm on working days and 11:00 am to 9 pm on public holidays with a one-hour break for lunch and prayers.
BDST: 1121 HRS, FEB 01, 2024
MN/SMS
