Sunil Mela, a five-day-long fair, marking the 85th birth anniversary of Sunil Gangopadhyay, has been taking place since Saturday at the writer's ancestral home in Madaripurs' Purba Maijpara village.
Organized by Madaripur district administration, the fair is housing a total of 60 book stalls including two Indian ones. The fair is scheduled to remain open every day from 10am to 10pm.
The venue will hold cultural programs, and competitions where food court, toy shops, and cosmetic stores will enhance the customer's enjoyment.
Sunil Mela was inaugurated by MP Abdus Sobhan Golap around 11 am on Saturday. Madaripur district Deputy Commissioner Md Wahidul Islam, Superintendent of Police Md Mahbub Hasan, and a few others were present as special guests at the opening ceremony.
Director General A K M Nesar Uddin Bhuiyan of the National Institute of Mass Communication, said: "We are very fortunate that Sunil Gangopadhyay's home is in Madaripur. We hope that we can organize a nationwide book fair marking his birth anniversary in future."
Publisher Shadat Hossain of Annyadhara Publications said: "Renowned publications of Bangladesh have joined Sunil Mela. I am proud to hold a stall here."
Prominent poet, and novelist Sunil Gangopadhyay was born on September 7, 1938 in his maternal uncle's house at Aamgram village of Rajoir upazila in Madaripur. His ancestral home is at Purba Maijpara village in Kalkini upazila. The writer passed away in Kolkata on October 23, 2012.
