DHAKA: The month-long “Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela 2015″ mostly known as ‘Amar Ekushey Boi Mela’ begins from Sunday, the first day of February on Bangla Academy premises and in the newly extended venue Shuhrawardy Uddyan in city.

This year’s fair will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at 3:00pm Sunday on Bangla Academy premises.

Apart from inaugurating the two events, the premier will distribute Bangla Academy Literary Award-2014 among the recipients.

Speaking at a press conference at the Bangla Academy on Saturday, Director General of the Academy Shamsuzzaman Khan confirmed the matter to banglanews.

A total of 351 publisher organizations are participating in the fair for this year. 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, the International Mother Language Day.

The authorities 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.

Besides 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 in the fair.

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: 0715 HRS, FEB 01, 2015

** Ekushey book fair from Sunday