As Amar Ehushey Granthamela represents one of the country’s significant historical and cultural events, a corner named “Bangabandhu Path” on its premises aspires to create a perfect citizenry for augmenting nation-building endeavors.
Drawing a large number of book lovers and bookworms who are enthusiastic about the great architect of independent Bangladesh, the corner set up for the first time at the book fair shows a way for many to get absorbed in the spirit of patriotism and a lifelong willingness to face new things and modify learned expectations accordingly.
Featuring a number of books written by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other books written on him, the corner has sitting arrangements for readers and visitors allowing them to read as many books they like.
Bangla Academy introduced the facility this year marking the ‘Mujib Year’ on the occasion of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu on Suhrawardy Udyan premises next to the Bangla Academy.
“It is an excellent initiative of the fair authority and it creates a great opportunity for us, who cannot afford to buy books and read books on Bangabandhu,” said Mehedi Hasan, a reader of the library.
He also demanded of making more publicity of the corner to draw the book lovers specially youths who are eager to know about the great leader of this soil, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Another visitor of the corner, Hasan Al Manjur, a 3rd year student of Dhaka University, said since the inauguration of the book fair, he came to the library every day when he got time to read books written by Bangabandhu and other books on his life and works.
“I have already completed Bangabandhu’s newly published book ‘Amar Dekha Naya Chin’, which was launched this year and I do not have to pay for this,” he added.
The number of visitors and book readers are increasing day by day and people are seemed happy to get the opportunity here, said Tanvir Hasan Akash, attendant of the library.
The first edition of the Bangabandhu Path is bringing together peoples and promotes political, cultural and economic exchanges among learners to devote to high level of commitment, hard work, devotion, dedication and a source of inspiration.
Considered as an important strength, the Bangabandhu corner can have influence more profound than others and give the glorious position and dignified status to the nation. This year, around 873 stalls have been allocated to 560 publishing houses and organisations to sell and exhibit their books and publications and 34 pavilions have been allotted to the publishing houses.
The fair remains open for visitors from 3pm to 8:30pm every day except weekends (Friday and Saturday). On weekends, the fair remains open from 11:00am to 8:30pm.
On February 21, the International Mother Language Day and Shaheed Dibash, the fair will remain open from 8:00am and continue till 8:30pm.
The fair on Bangla Academy premises had been arranged informally from 1972 to 1977. Since 1978, Bangla Academy has been arranging the fair formally.
In 1984, the fair was named “Amar Ekushey Granthamela” and a guideline for the fair was formulated.
