The Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2007 kicked off on the Bangla Academy premises in the city yesterday amid festivity and enthusiasm.

Chief Adviser to the caretaker government Fakhruddin Ahmed inaugurated the month-long fair at around 3:30pm.

Soon after the inauguration, people in large number thronged the fair venue. Law enforcers searched the visitors and their bags with metal detectors before allowing them to enter the venue through the only entrance.

A number of visitors, writers, poets and publishers expressed the hope that this year's book fair is going to be the most successful in the changed political scenario.

However, many stall owners were busy with decorating their stalls on the first day of the fair. They blamed the Bangla Academy authorities for the delay in completing the preparation work.

"If stalls are not allotted in time, how can we finish erecting stalls in time?" a publisher posed a question.

The fair commemorating the supreme sacrifice of Bangalees during the Language Movement on February 21 in 1952 also serves as the intellectual hub of the nation and the central forum for the youth, writers, poets and intelligentsia.

Prof Dr Syed Anwar Hossain, former director general of Bangla Academy, along with his wife came to the fair venue yesterday.

When asked about his remarks on the fair, Prof Anwar said, "Quite impressive."

Referring to the publishers' allegations that they were not allotted stalls on time, he said, "I would request the authorities to redress the grievances of the publishers."

He also said that some organisations that got stalls are not creative or research-based publication houses.

A sculpture depicting the Language Movement along with busts of five martyrs -- Abul Barkat, Rafiq Udddin Ahmad, Abdul Jabbar, Shafiur Rahman and Abdus Salam -- was also inaugurated on the Academy premises yesterday.

Sculptor Md Mofidul Alam Khan was seen explaining his creation to the enthusiastic visitors who gathered near the sculpture.

Writer Imdadul Haq Milon was seen giving autographs to his fans at the stall of onnya Prakash while journalist and writer Anisul Haq spent some time at Samoy Prakashon.

Answering a question, Anisul Haq hoped that this year's fair would be the most successful as

the country's political situation is stable.

on the opening day, only a small number of books arrived at the fair. The books include 'Alo Andhokare Jai' by Anisul Haq, 'option Three' by Ahsan Habib, 'Khude Biggani Series - 13' (Anu Paramanu) by Biggan Academy, 'Father Rigon: Nibhrito Kolahal' edited by Kabbo Kamrul.

All books, including those published by Bangla Academy, are being sold at a 30 percent discount.

The fair will remain open from 3:00pm to 9:00pm everyday. on Fridays the fair will open at 11:00am and there will be a two-hour break from 12:00 noon.

on February 21, the International Mother Language Day, the fair will continue from 8:00am to 9:00pm without any break.