Amar Ekushey Book Fair
Book fair mourns death of Rajib
The month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair on its 16th day mourned the killing of blogger Rajib Haider, an activist of the Shahbagh movement demanding death penalty for war criminals.
Both the visitors and the representatives of different stalls were deeply shocked with the death of Rajib who was killed by unnamed assailants Friday night at Pallabi in Mirpur.
Visitors, wearing black badges after they had attended the namaz-e-janaja of the deceased at Shahbagh, were found roaming the fair premises with gloomy on their faces.
Also the Bangla Academy officials, led by its director general Shamuzzaman Khan, observed one-minute silence at 6:45, praying salvation for the departed soul.
Silence covered the whole area despite the huge crowd.
‘How can one be killed so brutally?’ said businessman Shahdat Hossain from Dhanmandi.
Housewife Rowksana Jahan told New Age, ‘Rajib was killed as he was proactive in the movement.’
‘His death has inspired us to struggle against the fundamentalist and communal forces of the country,’ said Dhaka University student Rabiul Hossain.
Meanwhile, a total of 150 titles hit the fair on the day. Collections of poetry with 45 titles led the tally, followed by 28 story books, 20 novels and 10 essays.
Also 12 new books were unveiled at Nazrul Mancha.
A competition of general knowledge and extempore speech was held for children in the morning.
The academy also held a seminar on ‘Shahidul Zahir’ in the afternoon at the main stage of the fair while Prashanta Mridha read out the keynote paper while Manjur-e-Maowla chaired the discussion also attended by Anisul Haque, Saad Kamali and Shahnaj Munni.
The academy will launch a 12-day photo exhibition marking the 91st birth anniversary of the late national Professor Kabir Chowdhury.
Finance minister, AMA Muhit is expected to inaugurate the exhibition at 4:30pm.
Also a discussion on ‘Alauddin-al-Azad will be held today with Barhaduddin Khan Jahangir in chair.
Nurul Huda will read out the keynote paper in the discussion, expected to be addressed by SM Mohsin, Hasan Hafiz, Rezauddin Stalin and Tareq Reza.
A cultural function will be held later on.
Courtesy of New Age
