Ekushey Book Fair area expands this year
Preparations are going on in full swing
BSS
The area of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2018 has extended this year with the increase in the number of stalls compared to the previous years, reports BSS. The land earmarked for the fair has been increased to about 5,50,000 square feet from last years 5,13,000 square feet, Bangla Academy sources said yesterday. The total number of stalls increased to 700 this year from 659 while the number of publication agencies increased by 60 and the number of pavilions by 12 compared to the previous year, the sources said.
According to the sources, the preparations for Amar Ekushey Boi Mela-2018 are going on in full swing on the Bangla Academy premises and Suhrawardy Udyan as only a few days are remaining to begin the fair. Comprehensive security measures will be taken with increased number of law enforcers and camps this year, the Academy sources said. A total of 83 new publication agencies had applied for stalls this year while 60 got allocations, Bangla Academy Director and Member Secretary of Amar Ekushey Boi Mela arrangement committee Dr Jalal Ahmed told BSS.
For the first time this year, a separate gate will be set up for entrance of writers, litterateurs, poets and senior personalities of different sectors, including civil society members and dignitaries, he said.
The month-long book fair, scheduled to begin on February 1, will be featured with seminars, publication festivals, unveiling of books and cultural events.
