Under normal circumstances, Amar Ekushey Book Fair starts every year from 1st day of February month. However, due to the coronavirus situation, the fair is starting today, two weeks behind its usual schedule.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the book fair virtually from Ganobhaban today. State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid will be present as a special guest on the occasion. Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Abul Mansur will deliver the congratulatory speech and, Poet Muhammad Nurul Huda, Director General of Bangla Academy will give the welcome speech.
Bangla Academy President Selina Hossain will preside over the function. Bangla Academy Literary Award-2021 will be given in the inaugural ceremony. This year, a total of 15 talented writers in 11 categories are receiving this award.
State Minister for Culture KM Khalid has said that the duration of Amar Ekushey Book Fair may be extended if the coronavirus infection rate decreases.
He said that due to Covid-19 pandemic, the time limit of the book fair has been reduced to half.
‘If the Covid-19 infection rate continues to decrease, we may consider extending the fair's duration,” he added.
He made the remarks while addressing a press conference on the overall situation of the book fair at the Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad Auditorium of Bangla Academy on Monday.
Initially, it has been decided that the fair will run until February 28. However, the book fair duration may be extended if the Covid-19 situation improves. The final decision on time extension will be announced sometime on February 22 or 23.
Every year the fair starts at 3 pm, but this year the opening time of the fair has been brought forward by one hour. This year the fair will start every day at 2 pm and end at 9 pm. It has also been decided to start the fair on holidays (Friday and Saturday) from 11 am.
Last-minute work was going on in the fair stalls and pavilions till the filing of this report on Monday.
This year's book fair will be held in an area of seven and a half lakh square feet. About 142 units have been given to 102 institutions in the academy premises and 634 units have been given to 432 institutions in the Suhrawardy Udyan section.
A total of 776 units have been allotted to 534 institutions. There will be 35 pavilions at the fair.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam visited Suhrawardy Udyan on Sunday to monitor the security situation of the book fair.
He told reporters there that those who would sit in stalls would have to carry a certificate stating that they have been vaccinated. Therwise, they will be fined, he added.
He added that due to the coronavirus situation, no one would be allowed to enter the fair without a mask and a temperature measuring device would be kept at the entrance.
