A sudden spell of nor’wester and hailstorm wreaked havoc on Amar Ekushey Boi Mela venue yesterday, with visitors getting access to the grounds for only an hour in the afternoon.
Two and a half hours after opening time, the gates were finally opened at 5:30pm, only to be closed again at 6:30pm.
The decision to shut the doors early came after authorities failed to restore electricity connection to the book fair grounds, said Boi Mela committee’s Member Secretary Dr Jalal Ahmed.
Publishers also suffered huge losses after rainwater damaged many of the books left on display in the stalls. Damage was done to stalls and pavilions on both Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan grounds.
Annesha Prokashon Publisher Shahadat Hossain said most of his books on display became wet in the rain, but those stocked inside the stall were spared. Masud Rana of Abosar Prokashoni said all of their books had been damaged by the storm.
Mizanur Rahman Patoary, managing director of Mizan Publishers, said most of their books had also turned wet due to the rain.
Attendants of Shahitya Prakash and University Press Limited also said majority of their books were damaged by water.
Most of the stalls were surrounded by puddles of mud, while water could be seen stagnated in many places in the afternoon.
The place adjacent to the Nazrul Mancha under the banyan tree in Bangla Academy was submerged in rainwater, along with the open Mancha and exit gate in Suhrawardy Udyan.
Visiting the place at 3pm, the Dhaka Tribune found fire service workers busy pumping water out from the grounds.
The makeshift corrugated tin walls at Suhrawardy Udyan were damaged by the nor’wester. Around 5pm, workers could be seen trying to repair the damages.
However, during the hour the Boi Mela stayed open, a good number of visitors were seen roaming around the dry paths of the fair grounds.
