The buzz is back at Amar Ekushey Book Fair

Long lines and huge crowds were missing for a good 19 days at Bangladesh’s biggest book fair, unlike the past years.

But Amar Ekushey Book Fair regained its familiar feel on Friday, hours before the nation was to pay respects to the language martyrs.

The fair opened at 11am and although the flow was as usual in the morning, waves of people came to the fairground and by afternoon it was bursting at the seam.

Publishers, who had all along been complaining of poor attendance, told bdnews24.com that they were happy with the turnout on Friday and hoped that it would continue.

BV Ranjan, publisher of Nandita Prakashani, told bdnews24.com, “A good number of people came to the fair on the previous holidays too. But the presence of buyers today is immense. People have come and everyone is buying books.”

Shammi Akhter, owner of Chitra Prakashani, had agreed. “The sale is better today. The presence of visitors is also good. Hopefully this flow will continue right through the last days.”

Dhaka University teacher Didarul Islam, who was on his third visit to the fair this year, said the number of visitors was at its peak today and that he had a tough time getting in due to the crowd.

The organisers of the fair were repeatedly urging popular writers over the loudspeakers to move to free spaces to sign autographs for fans.

For more read the Bangla story