Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2013
Novels lead tally of new books
Fans rush for Humayun’s books
Novels led the tally of the new titles that appeared on the third day of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair on Sunday. Of the 95 new arrivals, 25 are novels and 15 books of poetry, followed by seven collections of essays, five books of stories, four books of history, three translations and 27 other titles.
At least six titles on the late popular author Humayun Ahmed, brought out by Anya Prakash, have already reached the fair, drawing a huge crowd to the stall selling those books.
These books include a commemorative volume on Humayun Ahmed, edited by Anisuzzaman.
An overwhelming crowd of visitors, mostly teenagers and young people, was seen thronging the stall selling newly published books by Humyun.
‘Though he is no more among us, we feel his presence through his writings,’ said college student Sabina Rahman from Motijheel.
This year the fair has been dedicated to the memory of Humayun Ahmed who died on July 19 last year, leaving behind a body of works which deeply influenced the younger people.
But books of other genres brought out by different publishing houses could not draw such a bid crowd of visitors, the stall attendants said, wearing a pale face when asked about the turnover.
Talking to New Age, the stall attendants informed that the visitors were just flipping through the pages of new books.
‘No fixed type of book is drawing attraction of the visitors as they have not yet decided over which book to buy,’ said Parijat Prakashani stall attendant Belal.
Many of the visitors were found waiting in front of the Bangla Academy stall before the opening of the fair on the day.
Towards the evening, the crowd at the fair intensified.
‘I have come with my friends to pass a few hours with them,’ said, Jagannath University student Jewel Ahmed. ‘Actually I have yet to fix whether I will buy any book or not,’ he said.
Most of the visitor passed at least a few moments on the new building premise of the academy beside the pond.
Meanwhile only five titles were unveiled at Nazrul Mancha on the day. These included Darpan Kabir’s Ferari Bashanta from the Royal Publishers, Rashed Rafi’s Shishu Phool from Ankur Prakashani, Md Azam Hira’s Manusher Deshe Pori from PPMC, Dildar Hossain’s Sangeeter Pryo Manushera from Bhasha Prakash and Rina Sarkar’s Kashta from Banalata.
The academy held a discussion on ‘Bangladesher Samaj O Sangskritir Rupantarer Dhara’ at the main stage of the fair.
Chaired by Serajul Islam, the discussion was also addressed, among others, by Mujtaba Ahmed Murshed and Rabiul Islam.
Meghna Guhthakurata read out the keynote paper in the programme.
A cultural function was held later on.
Today a discussion on ‘Technological Revolution and Future of Print Books’ will be held. Shamsul Bari is scheduled to chair the programme.
Ashim Saha, Mostafa Jabbar and Majid Mahmud will address the discussion while Zakaria Swapan will readout the keynote paper.
-With New Age input
