The Dhaka International Book Fair-2010 begins today on the Dhaka University campus with the theme ‘books for achieving Vision-2021’.
A total of 151 publishing houses, including three foreign institutions National Book Trust of India, Iran Cultural Centre and the World Bank’s Dhaka office, will showcase their publications in 223 stalls set up at the university’s central playground, said officials.
The 16-day book fair till December 16 will remain open for the visitors from 2:00pm to 9:00pm but on public holidays from 11:00am to 9:00pm.
The information and cultural affairs minister, Abul Kalam Azad, is scheduled to inaugurate the fair at 4:00pm.
Addressing a press conference at the secretariat on Tuesday, the minister said people should be inspired to read books for establishing a democratic society and also for the overall development of the country.
‘We will have to encourage the habit of reading books in society to remove militancy and fundamentalism,’ he told reporters.
He called upon all to visit the fair and buy books to inspire others.
The minister informed that the entrance fee for the fair is Tk 5 for each but school students will be allowed to enter the fair free, he added. ‘Tk 5 for the entrance fee is nothing but a token to keep records of visitors.’
Seminars, discussions and cultural programmes would be held during the fair organised by the National Book Centre. Writers, publishers and readers would take part in the discussions.
Director of the National Book Centre poet Rafique Azad said the authorities were planning to fix a particular date and venue for the book fair which began in 1995.
In 2008, the Dhaka Book Fair was changed to the Dhaka International Book Fair, he added.
This year, the Awami League-led government’s long-term development strategy, Vision 2021, has been tagged with the book fair’s theme.
The president, Zillur Rahman, and prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, in separate messages wished the book fair a success.
