Abir Rayhan :
Young couples and book lovers converged to the Ekushey Book Fair on Sunday looking for the books of their choice to present their loved ones on the occasion of the Valentine’s Day.
Long queues of young people in colourful dresses before the entry points at the Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Uddyan premises a new dimension yesterday as the cheerful faces crowded the area from Shahbagh to the High Court through the Bangla Academy road before the Fair opened at 3:00 pm. During a visit to the book fair on Sunday, it’s witnessed that thousands of boys and girls thronged the fair and were busy in collecting their favourite books from different stalls at the book fair. S M Bappy and Tawmida Mou, a young couple of DU, had come to the book fair from their campus, to enjoy the day together and to present books to each other on the special day. Bappy bought a book – Bhalobasha Ferey Ferey Asey of Anis Ahmed – and gifted the same to his beloved at the fair venue.
“Every year, we come to the book fair. We planned earlier this year to come to the book fair on Valentine’s Day to pass time together. We feel quite happy visiting the fair together today,” said Bappy.
Another young couple, Tanbir Ahmed and Nadia Islam Mitu who came the fair yesterday, was found busy browsing the books at the fair venue. They bought two books – Dip (Humayun Ahmed) and The Alcemist (translate Anu Ahmed).
Tanbir Ahmed said: “I love book and my beloved. So, I present my favourite books to my beloved on the special day.”
The numbers of new books arrived, the 14th day of fair. Ninety three new books landed in the fair yesterday.
Of them, 18 Story, 12 Novel, 3 Article, 25 Poetry, 2 dissertation, 6 Rhyme, 4 Biography, 2 Liberation War, 3 Drama, 4 Science, 2 Excursion, 1 Health, 2 Computer, 1 Science Fiction and 10 Miscellaneous.
Some of new books are Annano Golpo of Shamsuzzaman Hira published by Anupom Prokashoni, Arammo Rammo of Ahsan Habib published by Kotha Prokash, Chirodiner Uttom Kumar of Liakat Hossen Khokon published by Anna Prokash, Nistoron Torongini of Nasrin Simi and Shopner Mrittudanda of Akon Abu Bakor published by Aligor Library, among other books.
A discussion titled “Bangladeshea Rabindra Charcha: Otiet Thekey Bartoman was held at 4:00 pm in the main podium of Academy. Professor Golam Murshid presided over the function while Professor Bishwazit Ghosh presented the keynote. Ramendu Mojumdar, Professor Korunamoy Goshwami and Atiur Rahman participated as the discussant.
Later, a cultural function was held in the main stage of Academy. The artists were Syed Hasan Imam, Oarda Rehab, Khurshida Alam, Masuda Nargis Anam and Nahid Nazia, among others. At 4:00 pm a discussion titled `Bangladeshea Jibananda Dash Charcha will be held at the main podium of Academy. Eminent writer Ahmed Rafiq will preside over the function while Professor Hayat Mamud will present the keynote. Kabi Rubi Rahman, Kabi Muhammad Samad, Provat Kumar Dash, Fayzul Latif Chowdhury and Kabi Piash Mazid will participat the discussion. At evening, a fascinating cultural function will be held.
