In observance of International Mother Language Day and Martyrs' Day, a massive crowd of readers and visitors was observed at the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela.
On Friday evening, a visit to the boi mela grounds at Suhrawardy Udyan and Bangla Academy revealed long queues at the entrances near TSC and the temple.
Although separate lines were designated for men and women, due to the heavy crowd, people were not following them strictly.
The stalls and pavilions were also packed with eager readers and visitors.
Mim, a student of Eden Mohila College, said: "Because of the morning rush, some of my friends and I first went to lay flowers at the Shaheed Minar and then visited the boi mela in the afternoon. Today (Friday) is a day of both joy and sorrow for us. Our ancestors had to shed blood for us to be able to speak in Bangla."
Speaking about the crowd, she added: "It’s natural to have a huge crowd today, but I didn’t expect it to be this overwhelming. It's difficult to walk properly, and there's no space to even take pictures."
Palash Mondal, a student of Dhaka College, shared his experience, saying: "It took me 10 minutes to enter the boi mela through the TSC gate, and another 30 minutes to get to TSC from Shahbagh. But after arriving, I felt a sense of peace."
A couple, Nayan Hasan and Arifa Khatun, who came from Mohammadpur, told reporters: "We visited the boi mela on the opening day, and it was crowded then as well. However, today the crowd is even bigger due to Martyrs' Day. But a packed fair makes the experience more enjoyable."
