SEVEN year-old Sadman Sakib forgot everything around him. His eyes were glued to the screen playing a computer game. So was six year-old AbrarSiddikArnab.

These kids were seen at the computer fair at the ABC Tower at Dhopadighirpar.

Many like them were unhappy that the fair ended on Monday. There was rush of kids every day during the five-day fair.

The first such fair out of Dhaka, organised by Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS), drew large crowds irrespective of age and profession.

The most enthusiastic of them were school and college students.

Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman inaugurated the fair on April 29 with BCS President SM Iqbal in the chair. Shafi Ahmed Chowdhury MP and Mohammad Kamruzzaman, Convenor of the fair and Muhibul Hasan, Manager of Computer Source Limited, one of the sponsors, also spoke.

The fair was successful in providing first hand computer knowledge. Students from middle class families believe a computer is within their reach, said

Kamruzzaman to this correspondent on the concluding day.

A number of firms sold clone computers at only Tk 17,500 at the fair.

Many visitors showed interest on multi- media computers of Intel Celeron with 1.7 Ghz processors.

Computer & Engineers of Sylhet displayed software on medical, ERP, academic, library and jewellery management. Information & Computer Technologies displayed spares/accessories of all types.

Lexmark printers of different prices were put on display by

Businessland Limited displayed Licos UPS while RM Systems did Sparkle brand AGP cards. Global Brand Private Limited exhibited flat screen AOC and LG monitors.

Flora displayed flat Creative monitors and Epson printers.

Computer Source Limited, one of the sponsors of the fair.

To attract customers, different stalls offered discounts and gifts. Nanobite Computers provided free internet browsing facilities on seven computers. The stall attracted large crowds every day.

Sales were good. Many stall owners said such fairs should be arranged every year.

The Red Crescent Society took the opportunity to collect blood in a blood donation camp at the fair.

"We did it within two months of formation of BCS's Sylhet unit. We will try to make it a regular event", Kamruzzaman said.

The fair was open for nine hours from 12 noon every day.

Students had free access. Entry fee for others wasTk 10.

Many firms 33 in all including 21 from Sylhet took part in the fair.

A daily seminar was an additional attraction, said Anwar Hossain, a student of MC College.

"I have requested the authorities to organise such fair once a year", he added. Others were of the same opinion of many others like Shamsi Chowdhury, a student of Mohila College and Bipul Sarker, a banker.

Mayor of Sylhet City Corporation Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran attended the concluding function as chief guest.

Mostafa Jabbar of Ananda Multimedia hosted a quiz while Dr. Toufique Rahman Chowdhury, President of BCS Sylhet unit chaired the function and winners were given prizes.