Amar Ekushe Book Fair is waiting to welcome a large number of visitors today on the occasion of Pahela Falgun, the first day of spring.
As the following day is Valentine’s Day, the mela is expected to see a huge crowd.
Publishers also expect good sales on these occasions.
Hundreds of young boys and girls, dressed in traditional clothes, usually in yellows and oranges, usually throng the Institute of Arts premises on the Dhaka university campus in the morning on Pahela Falgun.
They take part in the “Boshonto Boron” festivities welcoming spring. These crowds then move on to the book fair, resulting in a surge of people.
The fair will open at noon today, 3 hours earlier than usual to celebrate the day. Security measures will be beefed up to tackle the flow of visitors at the premises.
Shaheda Khatun, member secretary of the fair committee, told Dhaka Tribune; “Discussion and the cultural programme will be held focusing the day.”
The publishers have taken initiatives to welcome the thousands of book lovers on the days. Some have put an extra effort to make their stalls attractive.
The interior and exterior of some 20 stalls were decorated to catch the attention of the visitors with colours and different font styles on the nameplates.
The wide space in the fairgrounds inside the Bangla Academy and the extended part at Suhrawardy Udyan help them in making their stalls attractive, the publishers said.
Osman Gani, president of Bangladesh Gayan O Srijonsil Samity said; “We are expecting a huge crowd like in the previous years.”
On the 12th day of the fair yesterday, a good number of visitors were seen strolling inside the premises. No disturbances have been reported so far.
For the first time “Little Magazine Chottor” was seen crowded.
Monirul Islam, salesman of Shirdara, a stall belonging to the little magazine said; ”A good number of visitors are visiting the stalls.”
A total of 88 new books were published yesterday, including Hasan Azizul Haques “Socrates” from Ittadi Grontho Prokash, Belal Ahmeds “Bhalobashi Tomake” from Jatio Grontho Kendro, Taslima Nasreen’s “Roktopathhin Bisram Chai” from Nondita Prokash.
A total of 28 new books were unveiled at Nazrul Manch of Bangle Academy premises.
A discussion titled “Nobojagorone Mohammod Rowshon Ali Chowdhury” was held at the central stage of the fair where Israil khan presented the key note paper.
