The month-long Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela 2020, the country’s largest book fair commemorating the heroes of language movement, began at Bangla Academy premises and the adjacent Suhrawardy Udyan yesterday, with a record number of 560 organisations participating this year.

With the theme “Birth Centenary of Bangabandhu”, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the book fair at Bangla Academy around 3pm.

As soon as gates opened around 5pm, earnest booklovers entered the premises.  

In the evening, a fire broke out at stall-616 belonging to Rabeya books at Suhrawardy Udyan. Fire service sources said the fire originated from an electric short circuit at the stall. “But no casualty was reported,” said Rifat Hawladar, an attendant at the stall. The fire was brought under control with the help of the fire service.

As it was the first day of the fair, not all stalls were opened or decorated completely, but that did not hamper the festivity among youths who visited the venues after passing a chaotic day of elections the previous day.

“I haven’t bought anything today, I’ve just browsed a bit,” said Raihana Koly, a student of City College.

Workers involved in setting up stalls said they would complete the remaining work by today. “As it was the inaugural ceremony, we could not work in the afternoon due to security reasons,”said Manik Mia, a worker seen near  Jatiya Grantha Kendra on the academy premises.

Publishers from across the country are participating in the fair with a wide variety of books while Bangla Academy will exhibit 104 newly printed and reprinted books this year, said the academy Public Relations Officer, poet Pias Majid.

Apart from distributing the Bangla Academy Literary Award 2020 at the opening ceremony, Kabi Jasimuddin Sahitya Puruskar 2020 for contribution to Bengali literature; Chittaranjan Saha Memorial Award; Munir Chowdhury Smriti Puraskar 2020; Rokanuzzaman Khan Dadabhai Smrity Award 2020, and artist Qayyum Chowdhury Memorial Award for artistic acumen will be announced in the fair consequently on the remaining days, he said.

According to the organisers, the fair will remain open from 3pm to 8:30pm on Sundays to Thursdays; and from 11am to 8:30pm on weekends. On February 21, the fair will remain open from 8am to 9pm.