Amar Ekushey Book Fair is open today

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (Collected images)

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to inaugurate the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2024 today, taking place at the Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan. The event, recognized as the country's premier book fair, will commence with an opening ceremony led by the Prime Minister at 3 pm, announced Bangla Academy Director General, poet Mohammad Nurul Huda.

During the inauguration, Prime Minister Hasina will present the Bangla Academy Literary Award-2023 to the esteemed recipients and reveal the covers of several notable publications, including the second volume of 'Collected Works of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,' a Bangla Academy publication.

This year's fair, themed "Paro Boi, Garo Desh: Bangabandhu's Bangladesh" (Read Book, Build Country: Bangabandhu's Bangladesh), is organized by the Bangla Academy, featuring a total of 937 stalls distributed among 635 participating organizations. The fairgrounds will host 173 stalls by 120 organizations at the Bangla Academy and 764 stalls by 515 organizations at Suhrawardy Udyan, along with 37 pavilions.

Reflecting on the previous year, the fair has seen an increase from 901 stalls in favour of 601 organizations. To ensure a smooth and critique-free operation, the Bangla Academy has taken full responsibility for the fair's organization, according to the Amar Ekushey Book Fair Committee's Member Secretary Dr. KM Muzahidul Islam, with 95 percent of the preparations expected to be completed by today morning.

The fair will feature a rich program of cultural events, seminars, and competitions tailored for children and teenagers, encompassing drawing, music, and recitation. Stall allocation was determined through a digital lottery system on January 23, aiming for transparency and fairness.

In addition to the main stage at the Bangla Academy, the fair will include special areas for book unveilings and author discussions at Suhrawardy Udyan, along with a 'Shishu Chattar' for younger visitors near the Ramna Kali Temple. Open from 3 pm to 9 pm on weekdays and 11 am to 9 pm on public holidays, the fair will also include breaks for lunch and prayers.

The Bangla Academy Literary Award-2023 will honour contributions across 11 categories, including poetry, fiction, essays, translation, and more, with awards presented to notable figures in each category.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has announced comprehensive security measures for the fair, including the deployment of uniformed and plainclothes officers, surveillance cameras, drone monitoring, and social media oversight to ensure a safe and secure environment for attendees.