The “Youth Convention” of the Islami Jubo Andolan is scheduled to be held at the Engineers Institute end of the park on Friday
Published : 16 Jan 2025, 06:13 PM
The Amar Ekushey Book Fair management committee believes it is "impossible to hold the book fair on time" if there are any rallies at the Suhrawardy Udyan prior to the event.
Mohammad Azam, director general of Bangla Academy and chairman of the committee, wrote a letter to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs requesting special consideration of the matter.
The “Youth Convention” of Islami Jubo Andolan, the youth wing of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, is scheduled to be held at the Engineers Institute side of Suhrawardy Udyan on Friday.
On Monday night, bdnews24.com published a report on the suspension of book fair work for four days due to the conference.
The report stated that a group of people representing the Islami Jubo Andolan came to the venue where the preparations for the fair were under way and asked the workers to stop their work on Monday evening, citing the approval for using the area for the convention.
The fair management committee reported the matter to the Public Works Department.
The director general of Bangla Academy, however, wrote to the ministry on Thursday as no decision was made in this regard as of the morning.
In the letter, Azam said: "Bangla Academy has received an allotment of the Suhrawardy Udyan from Jan 1 to Mar 3, 2025, to organise the Amar Ekushey Book Fair. Preparations for the fair, especially the construction of stalls, have been partially completed.”
"Several sources said the Public Works Department had given permission to hold other rallies and activities at Suhrawardy Udyan at the same time. It is impossible to hold the book fair if there is another rally in the area at the same time.”
Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus is scheduled to inaugurate the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025 this year. In this context, the academy’s DG asked the authorities to look at the matter and cancel any permissions for other rallies.
Asked whether the conference will be held at Suhrawardy Udyan on Friday, Shahidul Islam Kabir, central co-promotion and Daʿwah affairs secretary of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, told bdnews24.com: “We have been preparing for the conference for two months. We are planning to launch the conference after Friday Jummah prayers.”
However, a Public Works Department official told bdnews24.com: "Discussions have been held about holding the conference elsewhere. It may not be held at Suhrawardy Udyan on Friday."
Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Mofidur Rahman could not be reached for comment.