The Amar Ekushey Book Fair turned into a haven for children when they visited the fair in throngs with their parents on Saturday. The Bangla Academy authorities have arranged a “Childrens’ Hour” to make the month long fair more attractive for children, on Fridays and Saturdays from 11am to 1pm, at the children’s corner of the fair. The presence of children and adolescents was remarkable on the days. Usually, the entire fair takes a festive look with a vibrant presence of thousands of enthusiastic child book-lovers turning the venue into an animated occasion. With huge eagerness and curiosity, children flocked to different stalls and pavilions to find their books. Setting an air of inspiration, the children were seen roaming around the fair venue where sometimes the sellers struggled to manage the large number of children intending to buy books.
Some of the children were so keen that they could not wait but started reading their books in front of the stalls. Some of them were seen playing and taking pictures with the characters of Sisimpur at Shishu Chhattar, a platform that has been dedicated to children in the fair for learning and playing at the same time. Though fair authorities declare children’s hour when general visitors are not allowed so that children can buy books without facing any hassle found usually on other days, the fair premises were not enough spacious in comparison to huge presence of children. The crowd decreased a little at noon, but the rush grew thicker again in the afternoon. With the children their parents were also present.
If the authorities concerned make a special arrangement to expand the grounds for children, it will be easier to accommodate more and more child book-lovers in the fair. On the other hand, many people, who live far from the venue and who cannot visit the fair on working days like to visit the book fair on the holidays.
