Rayhanul Islam :
The venue of the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair has been a meeting place for many who want to pass time with their family members and relatives and to get rid of the monotony of routine life.
People of all ages come to the fair, now on the Bangla Academy premise and at Suhrawardy Udyan, to pass a few hours in a secure and protected area.
Enjoying respite from daily toil in workplaces or educational institutions, couples, teenagers and groups of young people are seen whiling away time at the fair venue.
Book lovers are gradually turning up in an increasing numbers at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair as it hit sixth day on Wednesday. However, most of them were seen browsing titles and showing curiosity about new arrivals.
Talking to The New Nation, a Dhaka University student, Rakib uz Zaman Rabbi, who came with one of his friends, said, ‘We have not come to buy book, but to meet friends on the fair premises.’
The fair premises at Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan witnessed the highest number of new arrivals on the day.
Mohammad Younus, publisher of Intamin publication, said it was normal that book fair would witness huge crowds on holidays, but this year the gathering is increasing every day.
Many youths visited their stall and a good many of them bought books, he added.
Monirul Islam, a sales executive, said only a few visitors are buying books. The ambience of the fair and the stall decoration attracted many visitors, he said.
This year at the book fair, around 770 stalls have been allocated to 499 publishing houses and organisations to sell and exhibit books and publications.
The venue of the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair has been a meeting place for many who want to pass time with their family members and relatives and to get rid of the monotony of routine life.
People of all ages come to the fair, now on the Bangla Academy premise and at Suhrawardy Udyan, to pass a few hours in a secure and protected area.
Enjoying respite from daily toil in workplaces or educational institutions, couples, teenagers and groups of young people are seen whiling away time at the fair venue.
Book lovers are gradually turning up in an increasing numbers at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair as it hit sixth day on Wednesday. However, most of them were seen browsing titles and showing curiosity about new arrivals.
Talking to The New Nation, a Dhaka University student, Rakib uz Zaman Rabbi, who came with one of his friends, said, ‘We have not come to buy book, but to meet friends on the fair premises.’
The fair premises at Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan witnessed the highest number of new arrivals on the day.
Mohammad Younus, publisher of Intamin publication, said it was normal that book fair would witness huge crowds on holidays, but this year the gathering is increasing every day.
Many youths visited their stall and a good many of them bought books, he added.
Monirul Islam, a sales executive, said only a few visitors are buying books. The ambience of the fair and the stall decoration attracted many visitors, he said.
This year at the book fair, around 770 stalls have been allocated to 499 publishing houses and organisations to sell and exhibit books and publications.
Additionally, 24 pavilions have also been allocated to the publishing house and 155 stalls allocated to the publishers of about 180 little magazins.
The stalls for the mainstream publishing houses have been placed inside the Suhrawardy Udyan while government organisations and the Bangla Academy are situated inside the Bangla Academy compound as was the case last year.
The fair is open for visitors from 3:00pm to 8:30pm like last year.
On holidays, the fair opens at 11:00am and closes at 8:30pm. On February 21, however, the fair will open at 8:00am and would continue till 8:30pm.
