Abir Rayhan :
The month-long Amar Ekushey Boi Mela, the largest historical event of the country, ended on Monday. Thousands of bookworms thronged the Bangla Academy premises and Suhrawardy Udyan on the closing day to use the last opportunity to collect their favourite writers’ books.
The visitors were found standing in long queues from the Teachers-Students Centre (TSC) and Curzon
Hall on the Dhaka University (DU) campus on Monday evening. Publishers and readers expressed satisfaction over the day’s turnover and the peaceful completion of the fair this year.
A total of 3444 new titles arrived at the Boi Mela this year with 939 poetry books followed by 529 novels, 503 books on stories and 197 volumes of Article. Last year, 3700 new books graced the fair while the figure was 2,959 in 2014, 3,070 in 2013, 3,669 in 2012, 3,013 in 2011 and 3,354 in 2010.
The total sales are Tk 40.50 crore this year comparing with 21.95 crore in 2015, 16.50 crore in 2014, 10.15 crore in 2013 and Tk 26 crore in 2012. The Bangla Academy also sold books worth 1.55 crore this year. Last year, the academy’s turnover was Tk1.60 crore, Tk 1.10 crore in 2014, Tk 67.40 lakh in 2013 and Tk 82.53 lakh in 2012, Tk 72.83 lakh in 2011, Tk 68.01 lakh in 2010 and Tk 61.60 lakh in 2009.
Bangla Academy authority arranged a closing ceremony in the evening in the main stage of the fair where Dr Jalal Ahmed, Member Secretary of the Boi Mela organising committee, presented the final report at the Boi Mela.
Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor was present at the function, as the chief guest, while Cultural Secretary Begum Aktari Momtaz was present as the special guest. Bangla Academy Director General Shamsuzzaman Khan gave welcome speech while Bangla Academy President Professor Emeritus Anisuzzaman presided over the function.
Shamsuzzaman Khan expressed contentment at the successful completion of the fair. In his welcome speech, he thanked everyone, particularly the fair organising committee for its tremendous effort.
Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor said, “It was a challenge for us to arrange the month-long fair. With the help of everyone, we did it successfully. It is not only a fair of sales but also a fair of Ekushey spirit. “Anisuzzaman, Professor Emeritus at the University of Dhaka said, “Ekushey Book Fair has become a national festival now. The way people show their love and interest to books through this fair is incredible.
“Meanwhile, Researcher and interpreter Frach Vhottacharja and litterateur Monzu Islam won the ‘Syed Waliullah Award’ for their contribution to expanding Bengali Literature abroad.
Mowla Brothers got ‘Chittaranjan Saha Memorial Award-2016’ for publishing quality books in 2015, Bengal Publication Ltd, Nimfiyea Publication and Pathsutra achieved together ‘Shaheed Munier Chowdhury Memorial Award-2016’ for publishing the Jibanando Dasher Mulanog Path-Vumika O Kobita, Buddhist Heritage of Bangladesh and Ami Ekti Baz Pakhike Hotta Korte Cheyechhilam, Moyurponkhi got ‘Rokonuzzaman Khan Dadabhai Memorial Award-2016’ for publishing record books on children literature, Somoy Prokashon, Moddhoma Publication and Jarniman Books achieved together ‘Shilpi Kaiyum Chowdhury Memorial Award-2016’ for their outstanding adorn.
On the concluding day, 140 new books arrived at the Boi Mela and 4 new books were also unveiled at Nazrul Mancha. The unveiled books are, Moon Light of Roksana Gulshan published by Shobda Kosh Prokashoni, Tashera Bukmark of Jueyirija Mou published by Mitakhora, Hiramon Paharer Rahsa of Saiful Islam Jewel published by Shishu Rajyo and Kothay Khuji Tarey of Saiful Islam Jewel published by Priyo Mukh.
This year, the authorities have allotted a total of 651 stalls – 111 at the Bangla Academy ground to 82 organisatons and 540 at Suhrawardy Udyan to 320 organisations. Besides, 15 pavilions have been allocated for 14 publishing houses, including Bangla Academy. Many of the publishers were seen to prepare their stalls to attract the book lovers.
A fascinating cultural function was held in the main podium of the Bangla Academy. Farida Parvin, Gazi Abdul Hakim, Mohammad Delowar Hossen and S M Reza Babu were performed.
