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Published : 01 Feb 2025, 05:22 PM
On the first day of the February, the curtain has risen on the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, ending the long wait for writers, publishers, readers, and book lovers of all stripes.
Muhammad Yunus, chief advisor to the interim government, inaugurated the year’s landmark cultural event on Saturday.
Amid the new winds of political change, the theme of this year’s fair is “July Mass Uprising: Building a New Bangladesh.”
The doors of the event open to the public six months after the nation's political landscape was irrevocably altered by a mass movement.
Suhrawardy Udyan and the premises of Bangla Academy have been adorned in a striking palette of red, black, and white - a symbolic gesture invoking revolution, mourning, and hope.
Yunus kicked off the event by presenting the Bangla Academy Literary Award to seven recipients.
This year’s winners are Masud Khan in poetry, Subhashis Sinha in drama and theatre, Salimullah Khan in essays and prose, GH Habib in translation, Muhammad Shahjahan Mia in research, Rezaur Rahman in science, and Syed Jamil Ahmed in folklore.
The chief advisor entered the Bangla Academy premises at 3pm for the inaugural ceremony. The event began with a rendition of the national anthem, followed by performances of songs commemorating the Language Movement under the direction of Ferdous Ara.
Yunus then inaugurated the fair by cutting a ribbon and entered the fair to browse different stalls.
He was accompanied by Cultural Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Bangla Academy President Prof Abul Kashem Fazlul Haq, and Director General Prof Mohammad Azam.
After the chief advisor left the premises, the fair was opened to the public. Workers for different publishing houses were seen setting up stalls as guests started to pour in.
The inauguration of this year’s fair is dedicated to honouring the fallen heroes of the July Uprising, 1952 language martyrs, activists and the brave individuals who fought during the Liberation War.
This year, the number of participating publishing houses has surged, growing by over a hundred, and the scale of the fair has also expanded.
A notable addition this year is the “July Chattar,” a memorial designed to commemorate the July Uprising.
Sarkar Amin, member secretary of the book fair, said: “This is the biggest book fair in history in terms of participating publishing houses and size. More than a hundred new publishing houses are participating.”
Bangla Academy Director General Azam said that stalls have been allotted to new publishing houses after considering the quality of the books.
He said, “This time many new publishing houses have joined the fair. We have approved them with an inclusive attitude and stalls have been allotted to new publishers after considering the quality of their work.”
A total of 1,084 units have been allotted to 708 publishing houses in this year’s book fair, up from 946 units for 642 publishing houses last year.
BOOK FAIR TIMINGS
Every evening at 4pm, the book fair will host seminars and cultural programs on the main stage. Additionally, every Friday and Saturday, with the exception of Feb 8 and Feb 15, there will be a "Children’s Hour" [Shishu Prohor] at the fair from 11am to 1pm.
In celebration of Amar Ekushey, there will be drawing, recitation, and music competitions for children and teenagers. New book unveilings will also take place in the fair premises.
The fair will be open from Feb 1 to Feb 28, from 3pm to 9pm daily, except on holidays. No one will be permitted to enter the premises after 8:30pm.
On holidays, the fair will operate from 11am to 9pm. On Feb 21, Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day, the fair will open at 8am and close at 9pm.
DMP’S DIRECTIVES
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police, or DMP, has issued several instructions in light of the upcoming book fair. Due to the event, certain roads in and around the Bangla Academy, Suhrawardy Udyan, and neighbouring areas will either be closed or subject to diversions.
Key diversion points include the TSC/Raju Sculpture crossing, Mausoleum of Three Leaders, and Hakim Chattar.
Parking will be available at Suhrawardy Udyan, the Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall field, in front of the Central Shaheed Minar, Fuller Road (one lane), and the Dhaka University Gymnasium ground.
For those driving to the fair, visitors coming from Shahbagh via TSC should disembark in front of the TSC entry gate and make a U-turn at Raju Sculpture to reach the parking or their destination related to the fair.
Those coming from Nilkhet/VC Bungalow crossing via TSC will enter on foot at Hakim Chattar, make a U-turn, and then turn right to access parking or their destination.
Visitors arriving by car from High Court and Shahidullah Hall crossing via Doel Chattar towards Bangla Academy will disembark at the Mausoleum of Three Leaders and make a U-turn to reach their parking or destination.
