The Khulna Divisional book fair 2024 is set to kick off on Tuesday and will run until December 2.
This year, the event will take place at the Khulna Divisional Commissioner’s Office premises, featuring 80 stalls.
Organized by the National Book Centre under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, with overall management by the Khulna Divisional Commissioner’s Office, the fair will open with an inauguration ceremony at 3pm on Tuesday.
A closing ceremony will be held at the same time on December 2.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Hamidur Rahman, member secretary of the Book Fair Organizing Committee, shared event details.
The fair will operate daily from 3pm to 9:30pm, with extended hours on weekends starting from 10am.
Among the 80 stalls, 60 are allocated to Dhaka-based publishers, showcasing and selling books from their collections.
Ten stalls are reserved for publishers from the Khulna Division, offering a platform for local poets, writers, and publishers. Additionally, four stalls will be designated for government offices, while two will serve as rest areas for police officers.
Food stalls will also be available for visitors.
The book fair will feature daily cultural performances by artists from district Shilpakala Academies within Khulna, alongside book launches.
To add vibrancy, seminars with thematic essays and scholarly discussions will be held.
Special activities like quizzes and competitions are planned for children and adolescents.
Khulna Divisional Commissioner Md Helal Mahmud Sharif emphasized the importance of books in fostering knowledge.
"Books are carriers of wisdom. To build a knowledge-driven nation, a regular reading habit is crucial. Alongside e-books, students must also be encouraged to explore printed books. The divisional book Fair will play a vital role in reviving reading habits," he said.
