The month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025, the country's largest literary event honoring the martyrs of the Language Movement, will kick off today (February 1) on the Bangla Academy premises.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus is expected to inaugurate the fair with Bangla Academy President Professor Abul Kasem Fazlul Haque in the chair.

This year's fair is themed "July Gono Obbhuthyan: Notun Bangladesh Binirman" (The July Uprising: Rebuilding a New Bangladesh).

Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki will attend the opening ceremony as a special guest, while Bangla Academy Director General Mohammad Azam will deliver the welcome speech. 

This year, around 708 organisations, including 199 at the Bangla Academy premises and 609 at Suhrawardy Udyan, will participate in the fair. The book fair will remain open from 3pm to 9pm daily, except for weekends and 21 February. On weekends, book lovers will be able to explore the fair from 11am to 9pm.

There will be a break from 1pm to 3pm on Fridays and 1pm to 2pm on Saturdays. As in previous years, the Shishu Prohor (special hours for children) will be held on Fridays and Saturdays from 11am to 1pm.

As per tradition, several awards will be presented to outstanding publications from 2024. These include the Chittaranjan Saha Memorial Award for quality publications, the Munir Chowdhury Memorial Award for artistic excellence, the Rokonuzzaman Khan Dadabhai Memorial Award for children's literature, and the Qayyum Chowdhury Memorial Award for excellence in stall design.

According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner SM Sazzat Ali, enhanced security measures have been put in place at the Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan premises to ensure the peaceful conduct of the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair.

BDST: 1205 HRS, FEB 01, 2025
SMS