The lax security on the first day of Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2014 made the visitors happy as they had not to stand in a long queue for security check before entering the fair premises.
The security was cooperatively slack in the fair that witnessed only a handful of people’s presence in the vicinity yesterday afternoon.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the fair around 3pm yesterday, following which the fair was open for public.
The security was beefed up ahead of the premier’s arrival in the Bangla Academy, but later it had been lax.
But police said security would be tightened in line with the rise in number of visitors.
For the very first time, the Bangla Academy is holding the fair in the Suhrawardy Udyan besides its own premises.
There was no security check on the first day of fair, said Munna Abir, a student of Dhaka University.
“I do not know how to react. Last year, I had to queue up for hours because of security check by the law enforcement agencies, but this time, it is an exception.”
The visitor said he was happy with the fact that he did not have to wait
for long in the queue, but was also
worried about the security considering the current political situation in the country.
Shahid Chowdhury, patrol inspector of Shahbagh police station, also in charge of security at the fair, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have sufficient number of lawmen deployed to ensure the security at the fair. There is nothing to be worried.”
“As it is the first day, there is no security check, but it will start soon and the security will be beefed up.”
A few book lovers were seen roam around the bookstalls and look for their favourite author’s books.
A number of stalls particularly the magazine section on the Bangla Academy premises were almost empty of people.
The construction of some stalls are yet to be finished. Bangla Academy Deputy Director Murshed Anwar told the Dhaka Tribune he was hoping all stalls would be open by today.
“This is the first time we extended the fairground to Suhrawardy Udayn. That is why things got a little messy, but I am sure, everything will be fine by tomorrow [today],” he added.
According to the Bangla Academy officials, a total of 299 publishing houses, government, non-government and sociocultural organisations are participating in this year’s event.