After several changes in dates and disagreements among publishers, the Amar Ekushey Book Fair has finally begun. Tarique Rahman officially inaugurated the fair at the Bangla Academy premises at 3:13 pm on Thursday . This year’s theme is ‘Multidimensional Bangladesh’.
The inaugural function was attended by the national anthem, recitation of religious scriptures and cultural performances, followed by a minute’s silence in memory of the martyrs of the Language Movement, Liberation War and July Uprising. The Bangla Academy Literary Award was presented on the same stage. Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Bangla Academy President Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque and Director General Professor Mohammad Azam, along with prominent figures from the cultural field, were present at the event.
This year, 549 publishing houses have participated in the fair—81 in the Bangla Academy premises and 468 in the Suhrawardy Udyan section. The total number of units is 1,018. There are 87 stalls in the Little Magazine square and 63 stalls in the Shishu square.
The fair, which runs until March 15, will be open daily from 2 pm to 9 pm (from 11 am on holidays). The organizers have announced a ‘zero waste’ policy to protect the environment—polythene and smoke-free premises, and the use of recyclable materials is being encouraged.