Ekushe Book Fair 2019 saw a massive turnout of children in the last weekend days of the fair yesterday and the day before.
Children, accompanied by parents or guardians, came during the children’s hours to visit the Children’s Corner (Shishu Chattar) and the rest of the fair on both the days, bringing delight and joy to everyone.
The children’s hours are a relatively new introduction to the fair and have been massively popular. It consisted of two-hour long programs on every weekend at the Suhrawardy Udyan part of the fair.
The whole book fair was teeming with children in colorful dresses. Many children told their parents they wanted to come there again the next day. Unfortunately for them, yesterday was the last day of the event for this year.
The passion of the children on the fair premises was visible in their eyes. Much to their delight, like other days of children’s hour, Haalum, and Tuktuki – characters of Bangla television series Sisimpur – appeared before them. The mascots entertained the children by greeting them and singing and dancing for them. Children were reciting poems, and dancing in the stage with Haalum and Tuktuki.
Writers also gathered during children’s hour to introduce the kids to the world of literature, and talking about many important issues such as their basic rights and let them know to be careful against the violence.
Writer of Marium er bondhu Mini (Marium’s friend Mini), Mohammad Badrul Hasan Titu said on Friday: “My book is consists of seven stories. My aim is to develop kids’ moral ground and awake their patriotic thoughts. Those seven stories will help them to build up a beautiful future of them as well as the country.”
Tahmima Begum, a house wife from Mirpur said: “I brought my child here to introduce him to books. I hope my kid will start loving books as well as the habit of reading.”
Nahin Chowdhury brought his three-year-old son to the fair on Friday to introduce him to Bengali culture and the sacrifice of the Language Movement heroes. He said: “My son has to learn about the great sacrifice of the heroes. It is our duty to instill the spirit of Liberation War as well as the Language Movement in our descendants from the very beginning of their lives.”
Six-year-old Tashfia Aslam was very happy to have come to the fair.
“I want to come here every day and also want to meet Haalum. My papa bought me a fairy tale book, which I love the most.”
A colorful prizegiving ceremony was held on Friday at the main stage of Bangla Academy where kids were awarded for different competitions in which they had taken part throughout the month.
The organizers decorated the children’s corner, featuring 30 publishing houses for children and teen literature, at Suhrawardy Udyan. Comics, fairy tales and ghost stories were among the most searched for titles at these stalls.
The fair has dedicated 11am to 1pm especially for children, styled Children’s Hour (Shishu Prahar) every Friday and Saturday. Yesterday was the last day for this special segment this year.
According to Bangla Academy, only 89 dedicated books have been published this year till February 21, for children.
