ARAFAT RAHAMAN and MASHFIQ MIZAN

A bittersweet farewell unfolded at Suhrawardy Udyan and Bangla Academy yesterday as the curtains fell on the 2024 Amar Ekushey Boi Mela. Hundreds of bookworms thronged the fairgrounds, a sight that has become synonymous with the month of February in Dhaka.

Children, wide-eyed and clutching their parents’ hands, browsed colourful stalls alongside university students, couples, and the elderly. The air buzzed with a unique energy, a blend of excitement for new discoveries and a tinge of nostalgia for a tradition cherished for generations.

Considering weekends, the authorities decided to extend the fair for two days till March 2.

Writers, publishers and readers alike paid farewell to the country’s largest book fair.

“I’m a bit sad now that the book fair has ended. I wish it lasted a little longer,” said Anika Tabassum, a Dhaka University student who went to the book fair with her friends.

They also echoed her.

This year, 3,751 books were published, while last year the number was 3,730.

According to Bangla Academy, books worth over Tk 60 crore was sold, which was Tk 47 crore last year.

A total of 635 publishers participated in the fair this year. The authorities allotted 173 stalls on the academy premises and 764 stalls on the Suhrawardy Udyan premises.

But amidst the celebratory atmosphere, a note of uncertainty lingered.

The government’s decision to take over Suhrawardy Udyan for the This

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