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]]>Besides the visitors, writers, publishers and stall attendants also observed the occasion with enthusiasm. The crowd on the day stretched from Doel Chhatar to TSC of Dhaka University.
Talking to New Age, the visitors said they had come to the fair to join the gala celebrations of Basanti Utsab, spring festival.
Bangladesh University of Business and Technology student Sharmin Haque from Mirpur in the city told New Age that she, along with her friends, came to the fair ground as per their plan to join the spring festival.
‘I have brought my children and wife in the fair to pass time together and buy some books today,’ said Azhar Mollah from Badda.
Tamanna Tanwy, who came with her friends in golden-coloured saris to the fair, said, ‘It is a special day for us as we regularly visit the fair on this day to buy books and celebrate Basanti Utsab.’
Genres of romantic novels, some collections of poetry of popular poets and juvenile literature sold well on the day, the stall attendants said, adding that the sale of serious books was frustrating.
Stall representatives of Agamee, Oitijhya, Adorn and Sanghati, among others, said most of the visitors just passed time or buy novels and poetry of popular authors.
Meanwhile the fair organising committee has closed the stall of Parabashi, selling books of expatriate Bangladeshis, for selling books published by other publishers.
The committee member secretary, Shahida Khatun, said the stall allotment was cancelled as the stall owner broke the fair rule.
A total of 118 titles hit the fair on the 13th day. Collections of poetry with 29 titles led the tally, followed by 24 novels and 14 story books.
Also 17 new titles were unveiled at Nazrul Mancha.
The academy held a discussion on ‘Kamruddin Ahmad: Samaj O Jibandarshan’, chaired by Akbar Ali Khan.
Mahbuba Nasreen read out the keynote paper in the programme that was also addressed by Muntasir Mamun, Muhammad Samad, Jalal Firoz and Ahmad Majahar.
They also observed a minute silence to show respect for the recently departed author Abdul Matin.
Today a seminar on ‘Tarashankar Bandapadhya’ will be held at the main stage of the fair.
Zakri Talukdar will read out the keynote paper in the discussion to be chaired by Hasnat Abdul Hye.
Rashid Haider, Abul Momen, Muhammad Shahid-uz-Zaman and Kanchan Kuntala Mukhapadhya are scheduled to address the programme.
-With New Age input
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]]>There are a few stalls among a total of 274 participating publishing houses where young people, mainly students of bachelor and masters courses at different universities in the capital, are not employed as stall attendants this year.
Talking to New Age, these people observed that working as stall attendants was a great means of gathering experience and a way of being self-reliant while continuing with study.
‘This type of part-time job, especially in such an event like book fair, opens up my scope for developing communication skills through dealing with customers,’ said Omar Faroq, a student of government Shaheed Suhrawardhy College.
He said it was an opportunity for those middle-class students who have to depend on some sorts of part-time jobs. ‘But working in the book fair is a great experience,’ he said.
Shuvra Prokash stall attendant Toma from Asian University told New Age that besides being an opportunity to be self-reliant, the book fair opens the door of learning many other things.
‘Also my time passes well being busy with dealing with the customers,’ she said.
Titumir College student Jubayer Raihan said, ‘This part-time jobs offer an opportunity to be in the realm of knowledge and training, that is potentially conducive to my career as event management and skills development.’
Adorn publication proprietor Syed Zakir Hossain told New Age that the fair offers an opportunity to the students of different universities to enhance their capacity as month-long training facilities with payments.
The payment of the stall attendants varies from Tk 5,000 to Tk 7,000 for the whole month. They have to be present in the stalls during the fair.
However, some of them, considering the full-time engagement, termed the payment poor and demanded that the amount should be increase.
‘It is tough for me to attend classes and do personal study during the fair hours. So the stall owners should increase our payment considering the hard labour,’ said Dhaka University student Shah Mohammad Atikullah.
A total of 124 titles hit the fair on its 11th day. Poetry with 30 books led the tally, followed by 25 novels, 22 story books, and 10 collections of essays.
Also seven new titles were unveiled at Nazrul Mancha.
The academy held a seminar on ‘Sangbadikatar Batighar: Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia’, chaired by Harun-or-Rashid.
Abed Khan read out the keynote paper in the programme also addressed by Muhammad Jahangir and Mohammad Selim.
Today, a discussion on ‘Ali Ahmed: Pandulipi Sangrahok, Gobeshak O Sompadok’, to be chaired by Mohammad Abdul Kaiyum, will be held.
Dulal Kanti Bhowmick will read out the keynote paper in the seminar, expected to be addressed by Moniruzzaman, Ahmad Kabir, Sahajahan Mia and Santi Ranjan Bhowmick.
A cultural function will be held later on.
-With New Age input
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]]>Number of new books falls
Quite unusual with the Ekushey Book Fair, the number of new books arriving at the fair in the first week of the month-long even fell because of political unrest.
A total of 490 new titles hit the stalls in the fair during the first week while the figure was 727 during the corresponding period of the past year’s fair, according to the fair information centre.
The publishers attributed the fall to the dawn-to-dusk general strikes enforced by Jamaat-e-Islami and subsequent political unrest over the life-term imprisonment of Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Molla.
The book fair organising committee on Thursday had declared Shishu Prahar (children’s hour) on February 8, 9, 15 and 22.
On Friday, the fair will open for children at 10:00am and continue till 12:30pm. The book fair organising committee at a press conference at Bangla Academy also announced that children hours would be observed from 10:00am to 1:00pm on Saturday and from 10:00am to 12:30pm on February 15 and 22.
Fair organising committee member secretary Shahida Khatun said the guardians with children would be allowed into the fair during the child hours.
According to the book fair information centre, a total a total of 490 new titles, including Thursday’s 90, hit the fair on the first week of book fair while the number was 727 during same period in 2012.
Robin Ahsan of Sraban Prakashan and Abbas Ali of Siddikia Publications both said the number of new arrivals in the book fair had decreased because of the Jamaat strikes.
Robin said, ‘If you look back to the past years, a sizeable number of books had hit the stalls in the first week of the fair but this year figure has decreased.’
On Thursday, collection of novel led the tally with 20 books, followed by 16 poetry and 9 short story books.
Eleven new titles were also unveiled at Nazrul Mancha.
The book fair on the day witnessed a large number of visitors on the eve of the two-day weekend.
Though the fair place was almost empty of visitors when it opened at 3:00pm, the scenario changed within a couple of hours, when people poured into the fair ground in their hundreds.
The academy at its main stage held a seminar on ‘Birth centenary of Kamal Dasgupta’, chaired by Professor Rafiqul Islam. Professor Karunamay Goswami read out the keynote paper.
ABM Nurul Anwar, Syed Abdul Hadi and Khairul Alam Sabuz addressed the discussion.
A cultural function followed the discussion.
Today, a discussion on Habibullah Bahar Chowdhury, to be chaired by Ahmed Rafiq, will be held at 4:00pm. Mafidul Haq is expected to read out the keynote paper.
Professor Syed Anwar Husain, Morshed Shafiul Hasan and Israil Khan are scheduled to address the discussion.
A cultural function will be held later on.
-With New Age input
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]]>Little magazines often run innovative or experimental works were also among the top choice of visitors.
Little magazines are usually published for reviews, essays, fiction, or poetry or some combination of the literary items.
A good number of magazines published from Dhaka, Narayanganj, Moulvibazar, Mymensingh, Tangail, Bogra, Sathkhira, Chittagong were in display and experiencing a good sale after succeeding to grab attention of readers of all ages.
Bangla Academy authorities have allocated space to set up 30 stalls for displaying the little magazines available in the country.
Stalls displayed little magazines appearing weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly and annually carrying various types of write-ups including poems, stories, novels and articles supposedly devoted to high literary standards.
However, editors and writers of the magazines expressed their frustration as the quality of the writings was going down for last few years.
Obayed Akash, the editor of little magazine Shaluk, and poet Tokon Thakur alleged that lack of young generation’s dedication and commitment to little magazines was the main reason behind the quality fall.
‘Aggression of corporate media also another reason of the quality fall’ added Tokon Thakur.
Little magazine term was coined by the some young writers who want to have alternative platform in place of main stream and also helping new writers.
Shahin bin Hye, a physician, said he used to buy a large number of little magazines since his childhood.
About 30 stalls of little magazines, including Shuddhaswar, Shaluk, Batighar, Chhotader Shatitya, Scarecrow, Megh, Lamppost, Dar Kak, Shampratik, Gram Theatre, Chal Chitra, and Nisharga, were set up in the fair ground.
The Bangla Academy will distribute prizes among the winners of competitions on the occasion of Ekushey February on general knowledge, music and others at the main stage of the book fair today.
According to the fair information centre, 62 new titles hit the stalls on the day, while 53 new titles were launched at the Nazrul Mancha, the highest so far in this fair.
Poetry books led the tally of the new arrivals with 13 collections, followed by eight collections of stories, seven novels collection and five essays and others on the day.
The academy today is scheduled to hold seminars titled ‘Manabadikhar, Manabatabad: Rabindra-nath, Einstein o Roma Rolla Ebang Akal’ and ‘Upanibeshbad, Uttar Upanabishbad o Rabindranath.’
Anik Mahmud and Masuduzzaman will read out keynote papers while Sulatana Kamal, Kamal Chowdhury and Abdul Wahab will take part in the discussion.
Aminul Islam will preside over the programme which will be followed by cultural programmes.
Courtesy of New Age
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With several copies of pirated books in his hands, 13-year-old Sumon was hawking on the footpath near the entrance of Amar Ekushey Boi Mela premises yesterday.He was not allowed inside the main premises of the book fair to sell his pirated books.
But, this did not impact on his spirit in vending books, as he with his attractive tactics draws attention of many booklovers to have a glimpse of the books. Some people buy them and some don’t.
“Visitors, who cannot buy books from the stalls inside due to high price, purchase books from me and other vendors on the footpath at low price,” said Suman. “Someday I earn Tk 200 and someday it reaches up to Tk 500.”
Like Suman, some 40 vendors have been selling pirated books on the pavement of the road leading to entrance of the book fair from the TSC intersection since the fair began on February 1.
Popular books of a wide range of nature including poem, story, translation, omnibus, autobiography, and others of both local and foreign authors are available on the street.
Though the quality of pages and printed letters of the books are not satisfactory enough, they draw attention of a good number of buyers because of low prices.
Most of the footpath sellers usually vend books on the pavements of Nilkhet, Farmgate, Mirpur, and Banglabazar in the city round the year.
But, they take to the footpaths near the book fair premises during this festival.
Displaying over 300 books, Mahbub Hossain of Mirpur was trying to attract readers. He said that usually they sell book with narrow profit margin, as it is a competitive market.
Bahalul Haque Suza, a student of Rajshahi College who was browsing books around the footpath, said, “I know the quality of the books available on footpath is not good, but I can get them at low price and it is helpful for a student like me.”
The sellers said they run this footpath business every year during the biggest and month-long gala for authors, publishers, and booklovers when maximum number of readers swarm the fair ground and hardly face any trouble from any quarter.
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]]>The visitors, alongside browsing and buying books, also pay heed to the appeal for humanitarian initiatives like donating bloods to different volunteer blood collecting organisation and extending financial help to ailing children, students and others.
During the current book fair, at least three stalls were collecting blood from the donors and till February 22, they collected about 2,560 bags of blood. Of them, Quantum Foundation had collected about 1,600 bags, Red Crescent about 600 bags and Sandhani about 300 bags.
Abu Hanif of Quantum Foundation said peoples from all walks and ages were donating blood and most of them were the young people.
A numbers of volunteers were collecting money outside the book fair entrance and exit gate for blood caner patients, Abdur Rahman, a secondary school certificate examinee of Badda Alatunnessa High School, Shanto, Class IV student of Dujay Pre Cadet School of Jhenidah, Shihab, a four-year-old child, and others.
Besides them, many were also collecting money for the mother of Rezwana Haq, a student of Institute of Education and Research, Dhaka University.
Shuvo Chakrabarty, brother of Shanto, said people visiting fair were extending financial help to those who were collecting money.
Abdur Rashid, a visitor to the fair, were found putting money into the glass box for Shihab.
On Tuesday, the fair committee observed the third and final children’s hours from 11:00am to 3:00am. The academy allowed a guardian with each of the children.
According to the salespersons of different stalls, trade on the day was satisfactory and the trend would keep up to the end of the fair.
According to the fair information centre, a total of 102 new titles hit the stalls on the day while 24 new titles were launched at Nazrul Mancha.
Collection of poem led the tally of new arrivals with 29 titles, followed by 18 collections of stories, 12 researches, 11 novels and others on the day.
The academy will today hold seminars titled ‘Rabindranath: Na Ninda Na Stuti’ ‘Rabindranather Brhamha Sahitya’.
Shantunu Kaiser and Robayet Ferdous will read out the keynote papers while Faijul Latif Chowdhury, Rafiq Kaiser, Aminur Rahman Sultan and Farjana Siddika will take part in the discussion.
Pabritra Sarker will preside over the programme to be followed by a cultural programme.
Courtesy of New Age
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]]>The Sylhet Shahjalal University of Science and Technology vice-chancellor, Saleh Uddin, inaugurated the book fair as the chief guest.
The organisers also brought out a procession in the city and later held a discussion at the police lines.
Sylhet Police deputy inspector general Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, police superintendent Ruhul Amin, additional district magistrate Shahidul Alam and Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Rezaul Karim, among others, addressed the discussion, said the organisers.
Courtesy of New Age
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]]>A total of 164 new titles hit the book fair on the 18th day of the fair while 40 new books were launched, highest number of books launched in a single day so far.
The fair venue turned into a human sea just after the afternoon, with hardly any room left for the visitors to move around the fair ground.
Salesmen of the different stalls were found so busy selling and displaying books from the morning to attract the booklovers.
Stall attendants and publishers said that they made a good business on the day.
While publisher of Sraban Prakashan alleged that information centre on Friday declined to announce the name of the title ‘Dr Younuser Daridra Banijya’ by Badruddin Umar.
The media convener of the book fair, Mujahidul Islam, said they did not announce the book as it violated the clause 14.12 of the book fair guideline which entails that titles which ‘defame any national leaders’ will not be allowed into the book fair. We, however, will allow them to sale the title,’ Mujahidul said.
A chaotic situation was created during the launch of new books from 4:30pm to 6:30pm as the highest 40 new books were launched at a time.
The education policy 2010 is now available in book form at the Ekushey book fair.
The education minister, Nurul Islam Nahid, will formally inaugurate the sale of the book at the book fair on February 29.
People can buy it from the stall of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board in the book fair. The book is priced at Tk 100 but will be available at the fair on a 25 per cent discount.
Juvenile literature and educationalist Muhammad Zafar Iqbal visited the book fair on the day and gave autographs to his fans.
The number of visitors increased with the time and at about 6:30pm long queues were formed at the entrance that reached Shabagh on the one hand and the Supreme Court building on the other.
Afjal Hossain, stall attendant of Oitijjhya Publication, said sales at their stall were good. Stall attendees of Anya Prakash, Anwesha and many others echoed him.
The Bangla Academy also arranged final round of music competition for the children on the day in which 24 children participated into two groups. The fair committee will declare the result today and the prizes will be distributed among participants on February 25.
According to the fair information centre, 164 new titles hit the stalls on Friday. Collection of poems led the tally of new arrivals with 33, followed by story collection with 28, collection of novels 21, collections of essays 10, collection of politics 6 and others.
The academy will hold final round of general knowledge and extempore lecture competition for the children at 10:00am toady.
The academy will also hold a seminar titled ‘Rabindranath O Nazrul’, Rafiqul Islam will read out the keynote paper while Asadul Haq, Mohammad Nurul Huda and Rajib Humayun will take part in the discussion.
The programme will be presided over by Mohammad Abdul Qayyum.
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]]>The Ekushey Book Fair started gaining momentum, drawing good crowd and witnessing good sales as well on the ninth day on Wednesday.
Visitors, who were just thumbing through new arrivals, also started buying books, publishers said, adding that novel was on top of the selling list, followed by volumes of poems.
Books of short-stories, meant for children, are also on high demand, they added.
According to the fair information centre, the number of new arrivals increased, compared with the last three days, as 125 new titles hit the fair on the day while the same office reported arrival of 97 books on February 6, 106 on February 7 and 66 on February 8.
Stall attendants of Anya Prakash, Srabon, Oitijjjhya, Adorn, Agami and many others said like the previous years novels was on the top choice of the readers followed by poetry collection, short-stories, juvenile literatures, essays and titles on liberation war.
Attendants at the Bangla Academy stall said along with different types of dictionaries, many old books on 50 per cent commission were also attracting the visitors.
Afjal Hossain, stall attendant of the Oitijjhya, said as the book fair was progressing towards the middle and some special days would be observed within the next week, the fair was now gaining momentum.
Stall attendants of other publishers echoed him.
Shawkat Hossain, a Dhaka University student, said he was visiting the fair almost every day since its opening and had bought two novels so far.
‘People started buying books as many new titles had hit the fair,’ he said.
Meanwhile, sales of the books, published abroad and published by other publications, continued at the stalls set up outside the Bangla Academy premises in the absence of vigilance at the fair venue.
Collection of poems led the tally of new arrivals on the day with 25 titles followed by 23 novels, 10 collections of stories and nine titles on liberation war and language movement, and others.
Nine books were launched at Nazrul Mancha of the fair.
As part of the month-long discussion on the life and works of Rabindranath Tagore, the academy held a seminar titled ‘Rabindra nather Roman-tikata O Adhunik Kabitar Dwandwa’. Ashim Shaha read out the keynote paper while Siddika Mahmuda, Abdus Selim and Ahmed Reza took part in the discussion presided over by Hayat Mamud.
The academy will today hold a seminar titled ‘Rabindranather Gaan Lalitakalar Amrita’. Nural Anwar will read out
the keynote paper while Mridul Kanti Chakraborty, Rezwana Chowdhury Banya, Shila Momen will take part in the discussion.
Retired justice Tafazzul Islam will preside over the programme.
A cultural programme will follow the discussion.
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]]>Organized by Khulna district administration, the fair began with the slogan ‘Book to achieve vision 2021’ and aims at creating readership of good books and make the young chaps interested in reading books, art, culture and literature.
The Khulna mayor, Talukder Abdul Khaleque, opened the fair as chief guest in the inaugural ceremony at 5:00pm.
The fair has 70 stalls and will be open from 8:00am to 10:00pm every day.
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