Curtain Lifts on Amar Ekushey Book Fair Today

The highly anticipated Amar Ekushey Boi Mela has officially commenced at the Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan premises. The month-long event is themed "July Uprising: Building a New Bangladesh."

Grand Inauguration
On Saturday (February 1) at 4 pm, Chief Advisor Dr Muhammad Yunus inaugurated the fair, marking the beginning of the country's largest literary festival.

As in previous years, the fair spans both Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan, with this year's edition being the biggest yet.

Participants & Stalls
A total of 708 publishers are participating, with 99 stalls at the Bangla Academy premises and 609 stalls in Suhrawardy Udyan. Compared to last year's 937 stalls from 635 publishers, the numbers have grown significantly.

Additionally, the fair will feature 37 pavilions, with one in Bangla Academy and 36 in Suhrawardy Udyan. The Little Magazine Corner, hosting around 130 stalls, will be set up under the trees near the open stage in Suhrawardy Udyan.

New Arrangements & Logistics
At a press conference on January 30, Dr Sarker Amin, Member Secretary of the Book Fair Committee, highlighted several key updates:

• The exit gate has been relocated closer to the temple gate due to the metro rail station's proximity.
• Four entry and exit points have been designated: near Dhaka University's TSC, Doel Chattar, MRT Basing Plant, and the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.

Enhanced Facilities & Security

• Food stalls will be arranged along the fair's perimeter.
• A record-high 30 toilets have been installed.
• Security measures include deployments of police, RAB, Ansar, and intelligence agencies.
• Over 300 CCTV cameras and security archways will be installed at all entry and exit points.

Events & Special Arrangements

• The main stage at Bangla Academy will host daily seminars at 4 pm, followed by cultural programs in the evening.
• The "Boi Khola" and "Lekhok Bolchhi" stages will be set up at Suhrawardy Udyan.
• Children's Hours: Held every Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 1 pm, except on February 8 and 15. Activities include art, recitation, and music competitions for children and teenagers.

 

Eco-Friendly & Waste-Free Fair
The organizers have announced that this year's Amar Ekushey Book Fair aims to be eco-friendly and waste-free. All participants and stakeholders are encouraged to avoid single-use plastics and instead use sustainable materials such as jute, cloth, and paper.

Fair Timings
The book fair will remain open from 3 pm to 9 pm on weekdays and 11 am to 9 pm on government holidays, with a one-hour break for lunch and prayers. On February 21, in honour of International Mother Language Day, the fair will open from 8 am to 9 pm.

The Amar Ekushey Book Fair continues to be a cherished cultural and literary tradition, bringing readers, writers, and publishers together to celebrate the richness of Bangla literature.