Month-long Ekushey book fair begins in city today

The month-long annual book fair kicks off at the city's Bangla Academy premises and its adjoining Suhrawardy Udyan area today (Friday).

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the 'Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela 2019' on the academy premises at 3:00 pm on the day. She will also visit different bookstalls after the inaugural ceremony.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid will be present as the special guest while Professor Emeritus Dr Anisuzzaman will preside over the programme.

The Bangla Academy made the announcement at a press conference held at its auditorium on Thursday.

Bangla Academy Director General Habibullah Shirajee, Additional Secretary (Admin) of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Md Abdul Mannan Ilias and Bangla Academy Director and Member Secretary of the fair organising committee Jalal Ahmed, among others, spoke at the press briefing.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Habibullah said the venue of the book fair was expanded this time with so many new, special and wonderful features which would encourage the booklovers immensely.

The Bangla Academy has been organising the book fair for more than three decades to underscore the need for upholding the values of the 1952 Language Movement and the 1971 Liberation War, he added.

The academy published 102 new books this year, he said.

Mr Jalal Ahmed said stringent security measures were taken to ensure the security of visitors in and around the fair venue.

Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and members of different intelligence agencies will be kept on high alert in and outside the fair venue to thwart any untoward incidents.

Nearly 300 security cameras were installed at the fair venue, he added.

Apart from this, he said, adequate archways were placed inside the Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan for screening of the visitors.

The booklovers will get 25 per cent discount on different books. In addition, they will receive additional discounts on bKash payment.

A record number of 499 organisations and publishers are participating in the extravaganza this year amid tight security.

The authority has allocated a total of 150 units at the Bangla Academy ground to 104 organisations while 620 units at Suhrawardy Udyan to 395 organisations this year. Besides, 24 pavilions have been allocated to 24 organisations including Bangla Academy.

Like previous years, the book fair will feature seminars, discussions and cultural events every day.

The fair will remain open to visitors from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm on working days and from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm on weekly holidays.

It will remain open from 8:00 am to 8:30 pm on February 21 (International Mother Language Day).

Wi-Fi service will be available at the fair premises. The book fair will remain free from smoking and use of polythene.

Nirapad Media & Communication Limited Chairman Ilias Kanchan and Chief Marketing Officer of bKash Mir Nawbut Ali also addressed the press conference.

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