Last-minute preparation afoot for Amar Ekushey Book Fair

Khairul Islam | Published: January 23, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00

Publishing houses and the Bangla Academy authorities have been taking their last-minute preparation ahead of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair to welcome thousands of book lovers on the academy premises.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to formally inaugurate the month-long book fair at 3:00 pm on the first day of February, sources at the academy said.
This year Bangla Academy, the caretaker of the country's biggest book festival, is hopeful of the largest ever gathering of the book lovers and increased the number participating publishers as they have extended the venue to the Suhrawardy Udyan.
Deputy Director of Bangla Academy Murshed Anwar told the FE that this year, only the government's agencies and organisations will be installed on the main premise of the academy while all the mainstream publishing houses will be set up at the Suhrawardy Udyan.
He said all the necessary initiatives, including allocation of stalls, security measures and budget, for the fair have already been taken up. Now the implementation of the measures is going on in full swing that will be closed by January 31.
"Out of 320 applications of the publishers, the authorities have allotted 262 stalls in three categories of the publishers - 131 for single unit, 83 for double unit and 48 triple unit," Mr Anwar said adding that the academy also completed its necessary preparation to make the event successful.
Bangladesh Academic and Creative Publishers' Association (BACPA) President and owner of the Agami Prokashoni Osman Gani greeted the authorities' decision to extend the venue and said this would help participation of more publishers at the event.
"This year, gathering of the visitors will cross the previous record as the political situation is comparatively calm, besides number of the publishing houses will also be increased", Mr Gani said.
However, he expressed serious concern about the sale of books during the event as the nation has witnessed its worst political volatility that paralysed the country's economy as a whole. Â
"The sales of creative books depend on the people's solvency and mental happiness, which is presently absent due to the political crisis. That's why we are in a hesitation in making investment for the book fair," the BACPA president said.
Owner of Dibyo Prokash Moinul Ahsan Saber said they have been taking last-minute preparation for the fair. "The publication process of some creative and unique books is in the closing stage," the publisher.
"Considering the demand of publishers and the fairgoers the authorities have decided to extend the regular venue next to the academy premises", Bangla Academy Director General Prof Shamsuzzaman Khan said.
He noted that earlier the academy was unable to accommodate a good number of genuine publishers at the event, even the fairgoers also complained to the authorities about the space crisis.
Against the backdrop of country's volatile political conditions, authorities have decided to take strict security measures in and around the Bangla Academy premises, the venue of Ekushey Book Fair.
Authorities said Close Circuit TV (CCTV) cameras would be set up at different points of the Academy premises. A temporary police camp will also be set up in the fair. Besides, sufficient number of police, RAB, plainclothes law enforcers will be deployed at the fair venue.
Meanwhile, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor visited the fair venue recently to see the progress of the preparation of the biggest book festival.