The stalls of government service providers and autonomous institutions have drawn a good crowd at the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair.
Besides their own publications, most of these stalls have been displaying books brought out by others, as the writers belong to the institution which has a stall in the fair.
Among the 43 participating government, non-government and autonomous institutions inside the Bangla Academy premises, Dhaka Metropolitan Police is displaying a number of titles written by police personnel and getting good response.
‘Our turnover so far is approximately Tk 1.5 lakh,’ said the stall in-charge subinspector Jahangir Alam.
The DMP stalls is displaying some 50-60 titles of 15-20 police officials this year, said stall attendants, while some 100-110 pieces of books are being sold daily on an average.
Asked about the types of books, they said they were selling novels, stories, science fiction, research-based books, books on liberation war and law related titles.
‘We have been participating in the fair for the last three years,’ said Jahangir, ‘not for business but for getting closer to the people and booklovers through our participation.’
Three male and female police constables remain in the stall as sales representatives.
Other autonomous and government institutions having stall in the fair have also got good response.
Dhaka University Publications, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation, National Museum, Liberation War Museum, Bangladesh Shishu Academy and National Curriculum Text Book so far witnessed a good crowd.
However, regarding the turnover, the stall representatives said their main purpose was not selling but displaying and informing the visitors about their collections.
Hence the turnover was not up to the mark, they said.
Meanwhile, a total of 126 new titles hit the fair on the day. Collections of poetry with 26 titles led the tally, followed by 21 novels, 14 books of stories and 10 volumes of essays.
Also five new books were unveiled at Nazrul Mancha. Dhaka University vice-chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique launched a postcard on the political views and achievements of prime minister Sheikh Hasina published by Bangladesh Awami Juba League.
A seminar on the role of foreigners in the study of poet Nazrul Islam was held at the main stage of the fair in the afternoon. Poet Muhammad Nurul Huda read out the keynote paper while Rafiqul Islam chaired the programme.
Today the academy will hold a seminar on standard of higher education in Bangladesh. Shahidul Islam will present the keynote paper while University Grants’ Commission chairman AK Azad Chowdhury will preside over the occasion.
The fair is open from 3:00pm to 8:30pm every day but the weekends and holidays, when it remains open from 11:00am till 8:30pm with a break for two hours beginning at 1:00pm.
Courtesy of New Age
