The Amar Ekushey Book Fair is all set to begin today, and it is expected to continue for approximately a month, concluding on April 14. Ekushey Boi Mela is one of the fixtures of our cultural calendar, and while this year the timing has been a bit different, it is nice to see that it is moving forward. Of course, there should not be any concessions on safety. We are, after all, still in the middle of a pandemic, and so Covid-19 safety protocols should be strictly enforced.
Not holding the fair in the month of February was a wise decision this year. An event such as this is large and logistically complex, and it simply would not have been possible earlier. Furthermore, the pandemic and vaccination situation was also up in the air just a couple of months ago. But now, it has become clear that the authorities have been doing an exemplary job of the vaccine rollout. We can expect to see, then, a gradual and careful resumption of events such as this one -- events that define the spirit of Bangladesh.
The DMP has said visitors will be required to wear masks when entering the venue, and that soap water and hand sanitizers will be available at the entrances. There should be no laxness in the enforcement of the protocols.
The Ekushey Book Fair is a part of our heritage -- it honours not just the Language Movement, but all of our struggles, our history, our culture, and what it means to be a Bangladeshi. We should honour this event by behaving responsibly, and not endangering anyone’s health.
