EKUSHEY BOOK FAIR Fair begins today amid censorship concerns

The curtain rises on the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, 2018 today with Bangla Academy prepared to host the month-long book fair on the academy and Suhrawardy Udyan premises.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the fair at 3:00pm.
The premier will also distribute ‘Bangla Academy Shahitya Puroshkar 2017’ prizes among 12 winners and launch a website www.ba21bookfair.com.
Literary delegates from the United Kingdom, Cameron, Egypt, and Sweden will join the inaugural function as guests of honour.
Amid writers-publishers’ concerns over censorship of the content of books displayed at the fair, Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia on Tuesday advised publishers not to showcase and sell books containing messages that would hurt religious sentiments and spread sectarian hatred. 
The concerns from writers and publishers stem from a statement made by police on January 25 that steps would be taken if Bangla Academy, after scrutiny, recommends legal action against authors and publishers for showcasing and selling books that hurt public sentiments at the month-long fair.
In his reaction to New Age, writer, critic and Dhaka University professor emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury said earlier only the readers had the right to judge the content of books. He said the authorities should allow the readers to decide on the books.
Member secretary of the fair organising committee and BA director Jalal Ahmed said wheelchair facilities for the physically-challenged and elderly people visiting the fair would be increased this year.
He said that temporary mosques have also been built separately for male and female Muslims. 
He added that 24 permanent washrooms have been erected at the fair premises. 
This year, a total of 719 units of stalls have been allocated to 455 publishing houses and organisations to sell and exhibit their books and publications.
The fair time has been increased by an hour from previous year. The fair will be open from 3:00pm till 9:00pm on weekdays and from 11:00am till 9:00pm on holidays.
On February 21, the fair will open at 8:00am and continue till 8:30pm.
Two main entry gates have been erected at Teacher-Student Centre of Dhaka University and Doyel Chattar along with three gates at Bangla Academy and six gates at Suhrawardy Udyan for entry and exit.
The fair has been held informally at the Bangla Academy premises since 1972. It became institutionalised in 1978 with the name Amar Ekushey Granthamela and a guideline for it was formulated in 1984. 

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net