Braving the odds, the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2021 has `begun on Bangla Academy premises at Suhrawardy Udyan in the city on Thursday.
It is the country's biggest congregation of booklovers, authors, and publishers.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the book fair from her official residence Ganabhaban virtually, calling upon the people to visit the venue maintaining health guidelines and social distancing due to Covid-19 pandemic. The fair will continue till April 14.
This year’s Amar Ekushey Book Fair is very significant in our life as the nation is celebrating the ‘Mujib Year’ marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the 50th Anniversary of the independence of Bangladesh on March 26.
The government has taken all out measures
to curb the spread of coronavirus infection in
the fair venue
The government has taken all out measures to curb the spread of coronavirus infection in the fair venue. We believe these initiatives will help to maintain a healthy, safe and decent environment in the venue, compelling the people to follow the health guidelines.
In this regard, apart from the Bangla Academy, other authorities concerned will also have to work tirelessly throughout the 28-day long book fair in order to make it possible and safe as well.
Commemorating the 1952 Language Movement (The “Amar Ekushey) and marking the International Mother Language Day”, the Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2021, originally scheduled for February, has been rescheduled for March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Like other businessmen, the publishers hit hard by the ongoing coronavirus situation seemed very happy, expecting they will turn around with the sale of books in this biggest fair.
Apart from the capital Dhaka, people irrespective of all ages from different places of the country throng the venue to buy their favourite authors’ book, turning the Bangla Academy premises, Suhrawardy Udyan and Dhaka University areas into a human sea.
As we know the coronavirus spreads mainly from person to person and this can happen to people, who are in close contact with one another, there is no alternative but to maintain health guidelines in the fair venue.