Bangla Academy President Prof Emeritus Anisuzzaman yesterday opined that publishers and their association should organise the month-long Amar Ekushey book fair in February, helping the academy, ultimately the nation, concentrate more on regular activities affected for three months.

It appears that one of the academy's major functions is to arrange the book fair, the eminent academician told the concluding session of the 39th annual meeting of the academy’s general committee.

Although the organising role stimulates reverence for the fair and for the last 60 years significantly aided the country's cultural developments, the academy has no reason to accept debates arising nowadays, he said, urging the academy's executive body, cultural affairs ministry and publishers to give it a thought.

Earlier, the academy Director General (DC) Shamsuzzaman Khan presented an annual activity report of 2015-16 fiscal year.

"Different initiatives and programmes have been taken for upholding the image of the academy. Efforts from everybody are necessary for implementing the programmes," he said.

Seven eminent personalities received Bangla Academy Honorary Fellowship 2016 for their outstanding contributions to different sectors.

They are eminent jurist Barrister Rafique-ul-Huq (law and good governance), veteran journalist Toab Khan (journalism), professors emeriti Alamgir Mohammad Sirajuddin and AK Azad Chowdhury (education and research); media personality Shykh Siraj of Channel i (developing agriculture), freedom fighter Begum Mustari Shafi (Liberation War) and renowned singer Rathindranath Roy (music).

Moreover, Abu Bakar Siddique received Mazharul Islam Kobita Puroshkar (poetry award)-2016, Akhter Hossain got Kabir Chowdhury Shishu Sahitya Puraskar (children's literature award)-2016 and Hossainuddin Hossain got Sadat Ali Akhand Sahitya Puraskar (literature award)-2016.