Staff Correspondent
The month long Amar Ekushey Boi Mela 2009 begins today on the Bangla Academy premises in the city, commemorating the martyrs of the historic Language Movement.
With a record number of institutions taking part, the book fair this year will also have special visiting hours for women and children only on three days.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the month-long exhibition of books at 3:00 in the afternoon. The minister for Cultural Affairs AK Azad and Professor Kabir Chowdhury will be present as special guests.
The inauguration ceremony will be broadcast live by Bangladesh Betar.
“The people of this country have an emotional attachment with Ekushey Boi Mela,” Bangla Academy Director General (DG) Syed Muhammad Shahed said yesterday during a press conference at the academy.
“We expect that the fair this year will be more organised and lively with the participation of readers, writers and publishing houses alike,” he said.
A total of 436 stalls have been allocated to 297 institutions and publishing houses this year, with expanded accommodation facilities spilling over the precincts of the academy.
The fair will remain open for all from 3:00pm to 9:00pm on working days and from 11:00am to 9:00pm on weekends. On February 21, the International Mother Language Day, the fair will remain open from 8:00 in the morning till 10:00pm.
For the first time ever, there will also be special timings for women on three different days during the month-long exhibition.
The fair will be open from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm on February 6, 7 and 27 for women and children only to make it easier for them to avoid crowds and associated hassles.
“During these special timings, a male guardian may accompany women and children to the fair. From 3:00 pm onwards the fair will be open to all again,” the DG said.
This year, bookstalls will be set up on both sides of the road in front of the academy.
On the occasion, the host Bangla Academy has already published 62 new books and will bring out 18 more during the month. These include biographies of Bir Srestha Captain Mohiuddin Jahahgir, Bir Srestha Noor Mohammad Sheikh and a number of textbooks.
Everyday a seminar will be held on the theme of ‘Potentiality of Bangladesh’. This will focus on a different sector each day. Also different cultural shows will be organised on academy premises each day.
Mercantile Bank is assisting Bangla Academy in organising the fair this year at a budget of Tk 31 lakh.
All information regarding the fair is available at three websites — www.banglaculture.com, www.boiwala.com and www.ekusheyboimela.info, the DG said at the press conference.
Courtesy: thedailystar.net
