THE month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair was formally inaugurated by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday. She distributed the ‘Bangla Academy Sahitya Puroshkar’ (award) to four writers and researchers, and also unveiled a book titled ‘Secret Documents of Intelligence Branch on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Volume -2)’ at the opening ceremony. This year Ekushey Book Fair’s theme is “Bijoy: 1952 to 1971, Noboporjay” (Victory: 1952 to 1971, New Phase).
This book fair, popularly known as Amar Ekushey Boi Mela, is a national book fair of Bangladeshis, organized in February every year. It is dedicated to the Martyrs who sacrificed their lives on February 21 in 1952 for the establishment of Bengali as State Language in Pakistan. Later, the ‘Shaheed Day’ was announced as International Mother Language Day by UNESCO in 1999.
The annual event is taking place at Bangla Academy premises and the adjoining Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. This year the land earmarked for the fair was expanded to 550,000 sq-ft; 37,000 sq-ft more than the previous year where a total of 770 units have been allocated to 499 organisations. The authorities have allotted 150 Bangla Academy units (shops) to 104 organizations and 620 Suhrawardy Udyan units to 395 organizations. Besides, 24 additional pavilions have been allocated to 24 publishing houses, including Bangla Academy, like previous year.
To participate in the event, country’s writers, publishers, poets and other related persons publish new books with year-long preparation. A record number of 499 publishers are taking part in this year’s book fair.
Police have taken foolproof security system ensured with CCTV, law enforcers and special traffic control system during the fair. Any untoward incident will be strictly prevented and publication of any book that hurts religious and social sentiments will also be curbed, the DMP Chief said. However, taking lessons from the past, it is expected that the authorities concerned would be cautious enough to select the books of so-called free thinkers which often hurt majority people’s religious sentiments.
This book fair, popularly known as Amar Ekushey Boi Mela, is a national book fair of Bangladeshis, organized in February every year. It is dedicated to the Martyrs who sacrificed their lives on February 21 in 1952 for the establishment of Bengali as State Language in Pakistan. Later, the ‘Shaheed Day’ was announced as International Mother Language Day by UNESCO in 1999.
The annual event is taking place at Bangla Academy premises and the adjoining Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. This year the land earmarked for the fair was expanded to 550,000 sq-ft; 37,000 sq-ft more than the previous year where a total of 770 units have been allocated to 499 organisations. The authorities have allotted 150 Bangla Academy units (shops) to 104 organizations and 620 Suhrawardy Udyan units to 395 organizations. Besides, 24 additional pavilions have been allocated to 24 publishing houses, including Bangla Academy, like previous year.
To participate in the event, country’s writers, publishers, poets and other related persons publish new books with year-long preparation. A record number of 499 publishers are taking part in this year’s book fair.
Police have taken foolproof security system ensured with CCTV, law enforcers and special traffic control system during the fair. Any untoward incident will be strictly prevented and publication of any book that hurts religious and social sentiments will also be curbed, the DMP Chief said. However, taking lessons from the past, it is expected that the authorities concerned would be cautious enough to select the books of so-called free thinkers which often hurt majority people’s religious sentiments.
