Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the month-long Ekushey Book Fair on the Bangla Academy premises in Dhaka this afternoon.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid was present at the inaugural ceremony as the special guest, while National Professor Dr Anisuzzamanin presided over the event.

Secretary of the Cultural Affairs Ministry Dr Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal and President of Bangladesh Book Publishers and Sellers Association Arif Hossain Chhotan also spoke at the function.

Bangla Academy Director General Habibullah Siraji delivered the welcome speech at the event.

This year, Bangla Academy has dedicated the fair to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by setting the theme of the fair as “Birth Centenary of Bangabandhu”.

At the outset of the function, a minute’s silence was observed showing profound respect to the memories of the Language Movement martyrs.

Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Deputy Speaker Fazley Rabbi Mian, ministers, PM’s advisers, parliament members, foreign diplomats, Bangla Academy fellows, senior journalists, writers, poets, publishers and senior civil and military officials were present on the occasion.

The prime minister also handed over Bangla Academy Literary Award 2019 among 10 poets and writers.

This year’s award winners are: Makid Haider (poem), Wasi Ahmed (fiction), Swarochis Sarker (essay and research), Khairul Alam Sabuj (translation), Ratan Siddique (drama), Rahim Shah (juvenile literature), Rafiqul Islam Bir Uttam (Liberation War-based literature), Nadira Mazumder (science fiction), Faruque Moinuddin (autobiography or travelogue) and Saimon Zakaria (folklore).

Sheikh Hasina also unveiled the cover of the third book written by Bangabandhu titled “Amar Dekha Naya Chin” (The New China as I Saw It).

After inaugurating the fair, the prime minister visited different stalls there.