The largest cultural and literary festival of the nation Amar Ekushey Granthamela (a book fair to commemorate the Historic language Movement) began Monday at the Bangla Academy premises in the afternoon.
Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman inaugurated the fair that would remain open for a month offering new books on various subjects for the readers. Director Genera) of the Academy Prof Harun-ur-Rashid Siresided over the inaugural unction while Director Nurul Huda delivered the address of welcome.
The book fair organised by Bangla Academy in cooperation with the Pustak Prokashak O Blkreth Saniity is participated by a total of 338 publication houses and socio-cultural and literary organisations while the number of stalls set up In the academy compound and in the adjoining road was 480. Last year the number of organisations was 272 and the number of stalls. 375.
Most of the stalls have started selling books to the public since 4 pm yesterday. Some stalls could not operate
from the first day as their decoration were yet to be completed.
A large number of people visited the fair on the first day although the sale was few according to some stall owners.
Most of them came to observe and prepare their mind to buy on the following days", one of them said.
An early morning rain yesterday turned some areas of the academy premises into a quagmire, which deprived a few stalls between the two main gates of the academy of clients. Although the rain was a welcome relief to a large number of people as it saved them from a late-winter dusty air of such a crowded place.
The remarkable aspects of this year’s book fair are, the Increase in the number of book stalls, setting up of an electronic display board atop the academy building for providing information about books and Introduction of rafle coupon for buyers of Bangla Academy books worth Taka 100.
Bangla Academy has published a total of about 100 new books and reprinted 43 books for the book fair.
No stalls, selling handicrafts. foods or other items were found in the academy compound as the academy authorities fixed the adjoining road from TSC to Dowel Square for them. A large number of vendors were also fouhd on footpaths on both sides of the road with handicrafts, flutes, household utensils and old foreign books and magazines.
A young man, identifying himself as a Master Degree holder from Dhaka University attracted attention of most of the visitors with his makeshift stall on the footpath urging people either to provide him with a job or to buy a chocolate from him. The youngman called himself 'M A Bas tab (practical)
The small stall of Sananda, a publication firm was found to be an attractive one for Its artistic construction. It was made of bamboo with a touch of wood in It. The stalls of Bldyaprokash, Baticrom and Prerona were also among the attractive ones for their artistic decoration.