Fair ends on a high note
It was a farewell mixed with hope, excitement and longing as thousands of booklovers thronged the premises of the Ekushey book fair yesterday on the last day of the month-long fair.
“I'll surely miss the book fair,” said Mukta Malancha, a student of Nightingale Medical College and Hospital. “The fair hours should be extended. Those who came from a distance cannot stay for a long time.”
Most of the visitors echoed her. They were also optimistic that the fair next year will be better and bigger.
This year, poetry, novel and story books dominated the fair. But the number of translated books declined.
Meanwhile, some visitors complained about the high prices of books at different stalls and wanted more translated versions of books.
“The books on the Liberation War have increased this year,” said Ayesha Khanom, communication officer of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh. “Even the rare ones, which were hard to get, were available.”
Meanwhile, many students were seen swarming the Suhrawardy Udyan premises of the book fair yesterday as they did not want to miss the opportunity of getting their hands on new books.
“My exams are over. So, I have come to buy some new books,” said Labib Shimanto, an SSC examinee. He wished the fair was extended for a couple of days.
This year, a total of 409 publications, government organisations, NGOs, research based institutions and media houses participated. Last year, the number was 402.
Jakir Hossain, publisher of Adorn Publication, said, “Overall, we are happy that people are buying books even on the last day.”
On the last day, the fair gates opened at 11:00am.
At around 6:30pm, a closing ceremony was held on the premises of Bangla Academy where Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, Prof Emeritus Rafiqul Islam and Director General of the Academy Prof Samsuzzaman Khan, were present.
The Bangla Academy sold books worth around Tk 1.54 crore this year, said a press release, adding, the total sale at the fair was Tk 65.40 crore. The total sale last year was Tk 40.50 crore.
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