ZCZC
BSS-19
BOOK-FAIR-HAWKER
Hawkers at Ekushey Book Fair return home with smiling faces
DHAKA, Feb 26, 2019 (BSS) – As Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan wears a festive look due to the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair, people of all ages are passing their good time in buying books and enjoying the mouth-watering “Fuska”, “Chotpoti” and “Velpuri” at the same time.
At least 200 hawkers are moving around the book fair area and selling different things, including tea, different food items, toys, balloons and flowers frames.
The book fair area witnesses a huge rush of visitors everyday as the book-lover city dwellers gather in the area for buying their favorite books. They not only buy books but also purchase different mouth-watering food stuff from the small vendors.
The hawkers return home at night with smiling faces as they are making good profit in the book fair. The seasonal hawkers are also moving in the area for extra income.
Talking to BSS, a fuska and velpuri seller Mahbub Ahmed said he comes in the fair area in the afternoon everyday and run his business till 9pm.
“I am a hawker of Gulistan area. But in the month of the book fair, I run my business in the area for making better profits,” he added.
At the fair, the sale of Mahbub is Taka 2,000 to 2,500 everyday which was only Taka 1,000 to 1,500 earlier.
Toy seller Rahim Uddin said he works at a Sanpapi (traditional sweet item) producing factory, but during vacation, he comes to the city’s traffic signal points and sales toys for extra income. “But in the month of book fair, I try to come here every evening. I spend only three to four hours in the fair area and earn around Taka 500 everyday,” he added.
The month-long book fair begun on February 1. Visitors of all ages gather at different stalls and pavilions to buy books of their favorite authors. Many of them are seen returning homes with bags of books.
Member Secretary of the Ekushey Book Fair Dr Jalal Ahmed said the stall attendants are seen busy dealing with the visitors and big smiles flash on the faces of the publishers.
In the ongoing fair, over 4,000 books have already been published, informed Jalal Ahmed, also director (current charge) of Bangla Academy.
BSS/Spl/KUC/GA/1658 hrs