Bangladesh
Book Fair Bookfair to start tomorrow
Dhaka, February 14: Under normal circumstances, Amar Ekushey Book Fair would have started from February 1. However, due to the pandemic, the fair is starting tomorrow (Tuesday) two weeks late. The decision, which is still pending, says it will run until February 28. However, subject to improvement, the book fair time may be extended. This will be informed on 22 or 23 February. The publishers said that the fair should be organized till March 17.
Meanwhile, every year the fair starts at 3 pm, but this time the start time of the fair has been brought forward by one hour. This year the fair will start every day at 2 pm and will end at 9 pm. It has also been decided to start the fair on holidays (Friday and Saturday) from 11 am. Last minute work is now going on in the fair stalls and pavilions.
It is still decided that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the virtual Amar Ekushey Book Fair on February 15 at 3:00 pm. The Bangla Academy Literary Award will also be given on that day. This year, a total of 15 talented writers in 11 categories are receiving this award.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Moha Shafiqul Islam visited the Suhrawardy Udyan on Sunday to observe the security situation on the occasion of the book fair. He told reporters there that those who would sit in vendors or stalls would have to carry a certificate stating that they had been vaccinated against corona. Otherwise a fine will be imposed.
He added that due to the Corona situation, no one would enter without a mask and a temperature measuring device would be kept. The instructions issued by the Department of Health due to the Corona situation will be followed. There will be a mobile team to ensure 100 percent wearing of masks.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Culture KM Khalid told a press conference at the Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad Auditorium of Bangla Academy at 11 a.m. on Monday about the overall situation of the book fair. He said that due to Kovid, the time limit of the book fair has been halved this time. If we continue to reduce the incidence of covid infection now, we may be able to extend the fair's duration a bit.
It was informed at the press conference that this time 776 units have been allotted to 534 organizations. There are 35 pavilions in it. The main area of the fair is seven lakh square feet.
