Preparation for Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2021 in progress
The preparation for Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2021 is in progress as many stalls and pavilions are seen constructing at the Suhrawardy Udyan and on the Bangla Academy premises.
The fair is scheduled to be held from March 18 to April 14 considering the COVID-19 situation.
Earlier, Bangla Academy proposed a virtual fair but the publishers opposed the decision, forcing a change in the academy’s initial position.
After holding several meetings among publishers, the Bangla Academy and the ministries concerned, it was decided the fair is going to be held like the previous year.
However, the area of the fair has been expanded and the gap between two stalls also increased this year considering the coronavirus situation.
Jalal Ahmed, Bangla Academy director and member secretary of the fair organising committee said, ‘808 units were allocated to 522 organisations to exhibit and sell books.
This year’s theme is based on the country’s 50 years of independence and the birth centenary of the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
‘The fair would be organised following COVID-19 health safety guidelines. We will use thermal scanners at all entrance and wearing mask is mandatory for all who would seek entry,’ said Jalal Ahmed, adding, ‘As the metro rail construction works are under way, so we have planned for three entry and exit gates at TSC, opposite to Bangla Academy gate and opposite to Ramna Park,’
He said that stalls of the government organisations will all be on the Bangla Academy premises like previous year and urged all to maintain social distancing once inside the fairground.
‘During the fair, we will also keep announcing to make people aware of the benefits of maintaining social distancing. We will share more details about the fair through a press conference soon,’ he said.
Academic and Creative Publisher’s Association of Bangladesh president Farid Ahmed said, ‘We are now working on field work. The area of the fair was seven lakh square feet in 2020 but this year it was expanded to be 15 lakh square feet. However, the number of stalls has decreased. I hope that it will help people maintain social distancing.’
‘Four sheds are being constructed considering rain as summer is right around the corner. The number of entry and exit gates has also increased. There will be a place for car parking adjacent to the fair. Some facilities have increased this year. Let us hope for the best,’ Farid Ahmed added.
Some 900 units were allocated to 560 publishing houses and organisations to sell and exhibit their books and publications in 2020.
A total of 4,919 new titles hit the stalls in 2020. Books of poems led the tally with 1,585 titles, followed by 731 novels, 644 stories, 271 essays and 203 children’s books.
The book fair began its journey on the Bangla Academy premises informally in 1972, and it became institutionalised in 1978. The fair was named Amar Ekushey Granthamela and a guideline for it was formulated in 1984.
News Courtesy:
https://www.newagebd.net/article/132569/preparation-for-amar-ekushey-book-fair-2021-in-progress
