M M Jasim :The Amar Ekushey Boi Mela took on a festive look on Friday on the occasion of Pahela Falgun.Thousands of young boys and girls wearing colourful traditional dresses thronged the Bangla Academy premises to welcome the first day of Spring, the King of seasons. Girls in Bashonti (light orange) coloured sarees with flowers on their hair and boys wearing colourful panjabees gathered the Boi Mela yesterday, the 13th day of Mela. They came in numbers – friends, families, siblings and couples – to give a quick look at the books that are newly published, take photographs and be a part of the celebrations. Alongside the bookworms, many came to buy books for their dear and near ones. The fair drew a bigger crowd yesterday, the weekly holiday, than previous days, amid ongoing blockade. But the sales were mixed in different bookstalls, booksellers said.Meanwhile, a book named “Ghure Darate Hobe” written by Barrister Mainul Hosein, Chairman of the Editorial Board of The New Nation, is now available at the Boi Mela. The book was published on March 2014. The 3rd edition of the book is now on display at Mizan Publishers’s stall in the extended part of the Mela in Suhrawardy Udyan. Meanwhile, about 130 other new books arrived and eight books were unveiled yesterday. Of the new books, 27 are storybooks, 18 novels, three essay books, 41 poems, six on research, five children literature, eight on biography, one on drama, one on travel, one on history, six on politics, one on health, three on science fiction and eight on other subjects. The new books arriving at the Boi Mela yesterday were: Drakullo Rahoshya by Milon Ganguli, Adarsha Lipi by Istiaq Ahmed, Attatyi by Abul Fatah, Maya by Asif Mehdi, Monghuri by Farzana Newaj Tamanna, Nopungshak Nayok by Solaiman Koreshi, Etihasher Aloy Bangladesh by Khandoker Mahmudul Hasan, Amar Biswas Amar Obiswas by Mahbub Alam, Premer Akuti by Madhob Ray, Kritodas by Moin Muntasir, Boiri Shomoy by Amullo Sarker Amal, Bhalobashar Onek Rong by Sayttajit Biswas Rana, Amma o Dur Somproker Ganguli by Bornali Shaha, Ek Chilte Akash by Ananya Razzak, Bangladesher Folklore by Naznin Mortuza, Nirbachito Galpo by Wasi Ahmed, Shimur Bieyer Golpa by Andalib Rashdi, Nil Cafer Kabi by Kushum Sikder, Barsha To Joler Barno by Kamrul Bahar Arif, Nil Akasher Niche by Nisho Al Mamun, Megh Shikari by Syed Manjurul Islam and Full Shirt by Shahabuddin Nagori.A good number of children mostly between eight and 15 flocked to the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela yesterday [Friday] as it was the ‘Children Hours’. Today (Saturday) is also another day for children.A drawing competition for the children was held at 8:30am on the Bangla Academy premises.Besides, a discussion on “Poet Abul Hossain was held in the main podium of the Bangla Academy in the afternoon. Manjur-e-Mawla presided over the function while Dr Tarique Mortaza presented a key-note paper. Baitullah Kaderi, Anu Hossain and Himel Barkat joined the discussion. A fascinating cultural programme was held in the evening marking the Pahela Falgun.
