DHAKA: The initiative of Chittaranjan Saha of selling 32 books under the banyan tree on the premises of Bangla Academy on February 21, 1972, is now, so far the largest congregation of Bangali writers, readers and publishers.
Saha, who was the founder of the then ‘Swadhin Bangla Sahitya Parishad’, now ‘Muktodhara’ publishing house, drew the attention of the booklovers, some other publishing houses and the authorities of Bangla Academy as well in the following years.
However, with the responsibility, the Academy has been arranging ‘Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela’, the book fair, since 1978 in the month of February as a tribute to the martyrs of the historic language movement in 1952.
This year’s fair will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at 3:00pm Sunday on Bangla Academy premises.
Moreover, she will inaugurate a four-day International Literary Conference alongside the fair.
A total of 48 litterateurs from twelve countries including USA, UK, France and Sweden, will participate in the conference.
Apart from inaugurating the two events, the premier will distribute Bangla Academy Literary Award-2014 among the recipients.
Regarding the preparation of the fair, Bangla Academy director general (DG) Shamsuzzaman Khan hoped that this year’s fair will break all the previous records.
He, at a press conference held at the Academy on Saturday afternoon, said that following the past year's practice, the fair will be spread into adjacent Suhrawardy Udyan.
“A total of 351 organizations are participating in the fair for this year,” he added. There will be discussions and cultural events everyday at the Academy during the fair.”
According to the organizers, the fair will remain open from 3:00pm to 9:00pm everyday excluding holidays.
Visitors can enter the book fair at 11:00am on holidays including Fridays while the fair will remain open from 8:00am to 9:00pm on February 21.
They have also taken additional security measures for the fairgoers.
“We have installed 75 Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras on the fairground as part of the security measures,” the Bangla Academy DG added.
Apart from the cameras, walk-through metal detectors have also been installed at the entrances of the premises.
Sources said that intelligence officials, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police along with the Ansar personnel will play the key role to ensure securities.
Moreover, on the occasion of ‘Amar Ekushey Book Fair’, cell phone operator ‘Teletalk’ will introduce a new package named ‘Barnamala’ only for the college and university students with a lower call rate and data package.
BDST: 1635 HRS, JAN 31, 2015
