The 12th Dhaka Book Fair-2006 under the banner "Books for peace and development” is expected to be inaugurated at midday, today at the Shilpakala Academy by the Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia.

The fair, organised together by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Jatiya Grantha Kendra, will go on till January 18.

Yet organising officials fear that the fair will not attract many visitors because of the countrywide bomb blasts and the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.

Even the publishers showed little interest in taking part in the fair. To encourage more publishers to apply for stalls, the deadline for bookings was extended three times.

"It is true that we had to call publishers three times to coax them to book stalls," said one of the high officers on condition of anonymity.

"I have never faced such a situation in my long years of experience here," he said.

He said the repeated bomb blasts throughout the country is responsible for this situation.

But Shafiqul Islam, director, National Book Centre said Eid-ul-Azha in midst of the fair is main cause for such a situation.

"Eid this year falls during the period the fair takes place and most staff members

and workers of different publications will be on leave making the chances of participating in the fair slim,” said Islam. He added however that leading publishers would take part.

The fair would be closed for three days during the Eid holiday, said officials.

The organisers arranged 108 stalls of which 96 stalls have already been booked.

Of the 83 participating institutions four are foreign stalls including the British Council, World Bank, National Book Trust of India (NBTI) and Iran Cultural Centre. In 2005 the total participants were 115 and the number of foreign stalls were only three.

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure tight security in and around the premises.

"We will take steps to ensure the public safety," said one of the high official of the Cultural Affairs Ministry.

It is expected that members from the Detective Branch (DB), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), police, and ansar will be provide round-the-clock security at the fair.

Publishers, however, have high hopes of good sells like the previous years in spite of the present situation.

"We should move forward amid the country-wide anxieties,” said Monirul Haque, publisher, Ananya Prakashani adding that they look forward to good sales.

As an International Book fair there is no limit in choice of language in selling and exhibiting books, added Haque.

"However, a "Subcommittee on Policy Implementation and Security" and constant vigilance team will check for any anti liberation, anti independence and anti religion books at the fair," said the director.

The fair authorities have restricted the sale of one publisher's book in another publisher's stall. Publishers decided to give 20 percent as commissions on the sale of each book as had been done in the previous years.

The fair remain open for visitors from 2:30pm to 10:30pm on weekdays and 11:00am to 8:30pm on holidays. The Entry fee is priced at Tk two.