The month-long “Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela 2014” begins today. The fair will be held at its traditional Bangla Academy grounds, but organisers this year will be hoping for an increased number of participating publishers, as the venue of the fair has been extended up to Suhrawardy Udyan.
This year, as part of new arrangements, the government sponsored publications have set up their stalls inside the Bangla Academy premises, while all the private publishing houses will operate at the adjacent Suhrawardy Udyan.
Security has been beefed up at both the grounds, and proper arrangements for sanitation and drinking water has been made for the visitors, said the Bangla Academy officials at a press briefing yesterday.
Director General of the academy Shamsuzzaman Khan said: “As of now, everything might not be ideal; however we will try our best to maintain law and order.”
The book fair will remain open from 3pm to 9pm every day and from 11am to 9pm on holidays. On February 21, the International Mother Language Day and Martyrs’ Day, the fair will remain open from 8am to 9pm.
The schedule for “Shishu Prahar” (children’s hour) would be announced soon, said fair organising committee Member Secretary Shahida Khatun.
The academy will provide 30% discount while other publishers would provide 25% discount on the prices of books. Wi-Fi facilities will be available at the fair.
While asked about BNP’s scheduled rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan today, the academy director general urged the political parties not to create any untoward situation at the fairgrounds.
According to the organisers, 534 stalls have been allocated to 232 publishing houses at the Suhrawardy Udyan, among which 33 stalls will hold children books of 24 publishing houses. As many as 69 stalls will hold books of 43 other publishing houses on the academy premises.
A little magazine corner with 55 publishing houses would be set up at the academy premises in memory of late poet Khondokar Ashraf Hossain, vice-chancellor of Jatiya Kabi Nazrul Islam University in Mymensingh and former professor of Dhaka University, said officials.
Last year, the Bangla Academy premises held 274 institutions within the premises, creating a congested atmosphere for book lovers. This year should be different as Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor approved the proposal of extending the fair to Suhrawardy Udyan.
According to the Bangla Academy officials, a total of 299 publishing houses, government, non-government and socio-cultural organisations are participating in this year’s event.
The academy, however, has failed to allot the stalls among participators by January 23 which is a breach of section 12.3 of the book fair rules and regulations.
When asked, Shamsuzzaman said the publishers could not be allotted in due time because the decision of the extending fair ground was belated.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the fair at 3pm today while Assaduzzaman Noor is likely to speak at the programme. The Bangla Academy chief and Professor Emeritus Anisuzzaman will also be present.
Late Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman, who is also a language movement hero, would be paid respect at the programme, said the organisers.
The Bangla Academy Literary Award 2013 will be awarded to 11 personalities at the inaugural session. Celebrated mime artiste Partha Pratim Majumder would be awarded with an honorary fellowship.
Later in the fair “Chhittaranjan Saha Smrity Purashkar” and “Munier Chowdhury Smrity Purashkar” will be awarded to the best publishers for quality publications of last year.
The book fair was held for the first time in 1972 in an informal manner at the Bangla Academy premises. Later it was institutionalised in 1978.
In 1984, the fair was named as the Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela.
