DHAKA, Feb 28, 2018 (BSS) – Record in new books publications, sale of huge number of books and enthusiasm among the book-lovers characterized the month-long Amar Ekushey Granthamela that ended today, leaving a fresh promise of increasing reading-habit.
The month-long extravaganza, that drew huge crowds almost every day, made a record of 4,590 new books publications igniting dream-materializing thoughts among the would be writers. Last year, the number of new books was 3,666.
On the last day of the book fair, visitors of all ages used the last chance of this year to flock to different stalls and pavilions to buy books at the Suhrawardy Udyan and Bangla Academy Premises.
Many of them were seen returning homes with bags of books while some were taking photographs on mobile-phone or cameras with books in their hands.
Poetry collections topped the list of the new books launched at the fair this year, followed by short storybooks and novels according to the information center of Bangla Academy.
The new titles at the fair include 1406 books of poems, 663 short storybooks, 621 novels, 267 essays, 167 children’s books, 108 books on liberation war, 112 books on history, 78 science books,
67 science fictions, 65 translation books, 32 literature collections, 32 medicine books, 20 satirical verses and jokes collections, 25 on religion, 7 dictionaries and 391 books on other categories.
Both authors and publishers were happy because this year’s book fair has witnessed a record sale with very encouraging and positive response.
As the curtain of the fair falls on today, the stall attendants were seen busy dealing with the visitors and big smiles flashed on the face of the publishers.
The Ekushey Book Fair is arranged each year by Bangla Academy and takes place for the whole month of February.
The fair turned into a national festival of booklovers and it is gradually widening its literary appeal to the authors, publishers and visitors.
Children with their parents thronged different stalls and many of them were seen buying books on fairy tales, ghosts, puzzles, alphabets, cartoons and comics.
Publishers said generally children like those books which have colorful and impressive illustration. They also laid emphasis on child-friendly content to encourage them in reading more books as now-a-days they are largely habituated to using technology.
The month-long book fair began on February 1 on the premises of Bangla Academy and its adjoining Suhrawardy Udyan in the city.
A two-day International Literature Conference began February 22 at the Amar Ekushey Granthamela-2018 to promote literary works of different languages and multicultural heritages through a vibrant gathering of renowned writers, educationists and researchers.
The theme of the conference was “Contemporary Literature in South Asia”.
Over 100 authors, educationists and researchers from six South Asian countries including Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan participated in the two-day International Conference.
Necessary security arrangements were made with the installation of 250 closed circuit camera televisions (CCTVs) in and around the Bangla Academy complex.
The law enforcers were deployed in large numbers to ensure foolproof security.
Dr Jalal Ahmed, Secretary General of Amar Ekushey Granthamela Observation Committee told BSS that a total of 934 more books have been published this year than that of the previous year’s book fair.
A total of 719 stalls were installed in the book fair covering an area of 1.50 lakh square feet while in the previous year there were 677 stalls.
The authorities for the first time included the Swadhinata Stambha (Independence Monument) at the Suhrawardy Udyan as part of the book fair.
A mancha (stage) for holding publication ceremonies and programme on unveiling covers of the books were installed at the Suhrawardy Udyan while discussions and seminars were held every day on the main mancha erected on the on the Bangla Academy premises.