Ekushey book fair: Shopkeepers and visitors must wear masks

The book fair, which has been delayed due to the epidemic, will have three levels of security measures to protect against coronavirus. This year's book fair will be held on March 18 at the Bangla Academy premises and the historic Sohrawardy Udyan. Dhaka Metropolitan Police says all shopkeepers and visitors to the fair must wear masks.

DMP Additional Commissioner of Police Krishnapad Roy visited the fair premises on Tuesday morning to see the security preparations. He later spoke to reporters at a makeshift police camp.

Krishnapad said, “We are starting the book fair at a different time. The impeccable security measures that we take every year, this time the security measures have been taken keeping in mind the corona situation. ” He said there would be an archway at each entrance to Beimela and a separate exit.

To avoid the crowd, there will be two more entrances and exits through the gate of Sohrawardy Udyan adjacent to Dhaka University's TSC and opposite the Bangla Academy.

The Additional Commissioner of Police said, "As you know, development work is going on in the roads, for which additional gates have been set up. This time some security structures have been changed. We will have mobile petrol, we will have foot petrol. ”

This year's book fair is being dedicated to the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of independence.

The overall beauty, format and publication of the book fair will be the theme of Mujib Year and the golden jubilee of independence. The crafts and photographs of the fair will express the spirit of freedom.

Five aspects of the five decades of independence will be presented at the fair; So that the visitors can come to the book fair and realize the feeling of the golden jubilee of independence. Besides, font installations will be constructed around the Independence Pillar with alphabet.

Additional Commissioner of Police Krishnapad said, this time there will be special arrangements for parking. The road between Bangla Academy and Sohrawardy Udyan will be open for pedestrians.

“Everyone who comes to the fair must come wearing a mask. There will be arrangements at the gate for hand washing or sanitation. ”

Asked if he saw any other threats outside the virus, the police official said, "We have the matter in our heads. With that in mind, our various intelligence agencies are working. We are looking into whether books are being published that hurt people's feelings. We are also monitoring whether anyone is committing a crime. I will take appropriate action if I get the information in time. ”

He said there would be three levels of security around the book fair. Detectives will also be on the ground.

Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Ramna Division Mohammad Sajjadur Rahman said 320 CCTV cameras have been installed for the security of the book fair this year.

Due to the epidemic, the scope of the fair has also been increased this time. As a result, this time the book fair is getting a huge expansion of about 1.5 million square feet; Which is almost double last time.