Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2021 on Bangla Academy premises and at Suhrawardy Udyan virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban at 3pm on Thursday, confirmed Dr Jalal Ahmed, director of Bangla Academy and member secretary of Ekushey Book Fair Committee.
At the inaugural function, the prime minister will unveil the book “New China-1952”, the English version of “Amar Dekha Naya Chin” written by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
She will also hand over the prizes to winners of Bangla Academy Literary Award-2020.
Bangla Academy President Prof Shamsuzzaman Khan will preside over the inaugural function while Bangla Academy director general Habibullah Siraji will deliver the welcome speech.
The year the fair has been delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak and taking place in March instead of February, the month of language movement.
The fair will be 28-day long and continue till April 14, although it can be shut down anytime, if the pandemic situation gets worse, said State Minister for Culture Affairs KM Khalid at the press conference.
The main theme of Amar Ekushey Granthamela 2021 has been set up according to the Birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and golden jubilee of Independence.
For the first time, there will be an entry-point and parking arrangement beside Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) along with other three entry points at the Suhrawardy Udyan.
Emergency shelter centers have been set up on Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan premises adjacent to the entry points considering the possible rain and storm during the fair.
The visitors have to strictly maintain the health guidelines for entering the fair premises while there will be arrangement for temperature test, hand washing and sanitizing in the fairground.
The book fair will remain open for all from 3pm to 9pm on working days and 8:30am to 9pm on public holidays with a one-hour break for lunch and prayers.
This year, the land earmarked for the fair has been expanded to 15,00,000 square ft which was 8,00,000 square ft in 2020. A total of 834 units have been allocated to 540 organizations while it was 873 units to 560 organizations in the last year.
The authorities have allotted 154 units at the Bangla Academy ground to 107 organizations, and 680 units at the Suhrawardy Udyan to 433 organizations.
A total of 34 pavilions have been allocated this year. There will be 140 stalls at Little Magazine Chattar.
Noting that necessary security measures have already been taken with installation of more than 300 closed circuit television cameras in and around the Bangla Academy complex, he said the law enforcers will be deployed in a large number to ensure foolproof security in the fair.
A mancha (stage) for holding publication ceremonies and programmes on unveiling covers of the books has been set up at Suhrawardy Udyan, while discussions and seminars will be held every day at the main mancha installed on the Bangla Academy premises.
A separate gate will be set up for entrance of writers, litterateurs, poets and senior personalities of different sectors, including civil society members and dignitaries.
There will be three gates to enter the Bangla Academy premises and six entrance and exit points at Suhrawardy Udyan.
