Staff Reporter :
Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2022 will begin today after a delay due to coronavirus pandemic. Preparations for the fair have already been completed.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the traditional book fair on Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan premises virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to open the book fair tomorrow (Monday) at 3pm virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence,” State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid told a press conference at Bangla Academy on Tuesday.
This year the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, also known as a place of reunion of the writers-readers-publishers, which usually begins on the first day of February, is going to be held from February 15 to 28 due to Covid-19 situation, said KM Khalid.
A total of 776 stalls have been allocated to 534 organizations. The authorities have allotted 142 stalls to 102 organizations for the Bangla Academy ground and 634 stalls to 432 organizations for the Suhrawardy Udyan.
Last year, a total of 834 stalls were allocated in favour of 540 organizations.
Moreover, a total of 35 pavilions have been allocated this year. Apart from this, there will be 127 stalls at Little Magazine Chattar, which was 140 in 2021, 155 in 2020.
The visitors have to strictly maintain the health guidelines on the fair premises while there will be arrangement for temperature test, hand washing and sanitizing at all entry points, Jalal said, adding, “None will be allowed inside the fairground without face mask and sanitizing hands,” said Dr Jalal Ahmed, director of Bangla Academy and member secretary of Ekushey Book Fair Committee.
There will be strict security arrangements in and around the book fair venue to avert any unpleasant incident and every nook and cranny of the 1.5 million square feet space of the fair venue will be under CCTV camera coverage, said Jalal.
The law enforcers will be deployed in a large number to ensure foolproof security in the fair, he added.
