Sheikh Russell Shishu Chattar: Children’s zone at the Boi Mela

To develop the habit of reading, the Sheikh Russell Shishu Chattar has been set up at the Ekushey Book Fair devoted solely to children's books. This gives parents the perfect opportunity to introduce their children to the magic of literature without having to deal with the crowd at the fair. 

The Sheikh Russell Shishu Chattar is located at the Suhrawardy Udyan portion of the Ekushey Boi Mela; around 111 stalls of 71 publications have been set up in the dedicated area. The zone has been colourfully decorated to make things attractive for children.

"This is the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that people are coming to the fair in large numbers. Children seem to absolutely love coming to the Shishu Chattar," said Saiful Islam, Sales Executive of Dhaka Comics.

To get the best experience of the Sheikh Russell Shishu Chattar, it is recommended to visit the zone on weekends during the Shishu Prahar — two hours dedicated to children every Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 1 PM. 

The biggest attraction of the Sheikh Russell Shishu Chattar during the Shishu Prahar is undoubtedly the characters of Sisimpur, the popular children's show aired on television, and the skits they perform.

"My girl loves Sisimpur.  When she got to know there will be performances by the characters, she just had to be here!" said Fatema Hossain, a housewife from Azimpur, who came to the fair with her 8-year-old daughter.

"I am also buying books she seems interested in. I hope that she turns into an avid reader," Hossain added.

Society is facing a challenge where children are now more attracted to gadgets, rather than books and toys. We want to impart the habit of reading to children; measures like the Shishu Prahar and Sheikh Russell Shishu Chattar can help us achieve that goal.