The Ekushey Boi Mela, which was inaugurated on February 15, witnessed good footfall over the weekend, which led to crowd gatherings near popular pavilions. 

Many visitors choose to come on the weekend so they get the opportunity to catch a glimpse of their favourite author. Several others are unable to visit on weekdays due to studies or work. The crowd notably mostly consisted of young students and families who seemed glad that the fair was being conducted even amidst the pandemic. 

While visiting the fair on Friday, I came across readers beaming at the stalls and getting their books autographed by authors. Authors expressed their happiness in sharing their work with others. The scenario, in a nutshell, reminded me of the very essence of the Boi Mela—a platform for cultural exchange between language and literature lovers. 

Most publishers were pleasantly surprised by the turnover of readers and are optimistic about sales. After incurring a major loss last year. Many new releases will be arriving later this week. But patrons, and debut authors in particular, remain hopeful. 

Young readers suggested that the children's corner could be made more colourful, as seen in previous years. They did, however, find the setup easier to navigate this year. 

Maisha Islam Monamee likes reading, scribbling, and blogging. Suggest new ideas and follow @monameereads on Instagram.