Sales of novels, science fiction, and ghost stories, are at the top on day 10 of Amar Ekushey Book Fair, said attendants at many well-known stalls at both Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Uddyan yesterday.
Despite the ongoing hartal and blockade, book lovers are visiting the fair in increasing numbers, and the excitement at the fair remains high.
Visitors of all ages were seen in a long queue that stretched from TSC to the Bangla Academy, before the fair opened yesterday at 3pm.
Most children’s book stalls in Bangla Academy kept busy. The first hour of the fair each day saw more and more children and their guardians visiting.
Three words described the scene – “Sales are good.” Umme Habiba, an attendant at Knowledge View publications, said: “Fairy ghost stories are best liked by the children here.”
Yesterday, the start of the fair saw a mother with her three children browsing the Jhinge Ful Publication stall. The oldest demanded his mother buy him a book about ghosts, like “Bhuter Shathe Ek Raat” by Moajjem Hossain Alamgir.
This was a common scene in nearly all children’s book stalls at Bangla Academy.
“Ghost stories have drawn many children and youth. It is, perhaps, the best-selling genre at all children’s stalls,” said Imrul Kayes Khan, an attendant at Jhinge Ful Publication.
On the other hand, “Serina,” a science fiction tale by Muhammed Zafar Iqbal and “Mayer Kachhe Fera,” a novel by Anisul Hoque, have drawn the most readers, according to stall attendants at Shomoy Prakash.
Nazmul Hasan at Somoy Prakash said they have been selling a great many novels and science fiction tales, by Muhammed Zafar Iqbal and Anisul Hoque.
Attendants at Annya Prokash said they have sold more Humayun Ahmed novels, than any other, from the very start of this year’s fair.
Attendants at Ananya, Oitiijjo, and a few other publication houses shared the same sentiments about their sales yesterday.
With the new arrival of 125 books yesterday, the number of newly-published books at the fair now stands at 1,264, in total.