Book fair inaugurated after much anticipation

After a long wait and tension, the 37th Aumor Ekushey Book Fair was finally inaugurated on Thursday. The book fair will continue till April 14.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the virtually Aumor Ekushe Boi Mela from Ganobhaban at around 4 pm today.

This year's fair is dedicated to the memory of the heroic martyrs of the great liberation war. The main theme of the fair is 'Birth Centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Golden Jubilee of Independence'. At the beginning of the program, tributes were paid to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, four national leaders, language martyrs, and martyrs of the liberation war.

Due to the outbreak of covid-19, this year's Amar Ekushey Book Fair was supposed to be held virtually or online. However, in the end, the Bangla Academy got permission from the Prime Minister's Office to organize fairs at Suhrawardy Udyan and Bangla Academy premises.

Noting that the fair started late due to the time taken for observation after the start of the covid-19 inoculation program, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, "The book fair was held after the scheduled time due to covid-19." But March is also very important in the life of our nation. Speech on March 7, Bangabandhu's birthday on March 17 and this year the golden jubilee of independence is being celebrated. All in all, the fair is taking place at an important time. '

Calling on all to develop the habit of reading books, the Prime Minister said the new generation should be inclined towards reading books. For this, they should be interested in reading books from childhood.

Calling on everyone at the fair to abide by the hygiene rules, the Prime Minister said, "Protecting yourself means protecting others as well."

After inaugurating the virtual fair, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina unveiled the cover of the English translation of the book 'Amar Dekha Noyachin' written by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, 'New China-1952'. Bangla Academy has published the book. 

State Minister for Culture KM Khalid was the special guest on the fair stage at the opening ceremony, said the Cultural secretary. Badrul Arefin, Director-General of the Academy Habibullah Siraj gave the welcome speech and President of the Academy Shamsuzzaman Khan presided over the function. Farid Ahmed, President of Bangladesh Knowledge and Creative Publishers Association also spoke.

The inaugural ceremony was held on the south ground of Bordhomaan House of Bangla Academy as before. Today, the inaugural program and the month-long program will continue here.

In 1973, when Manzoor Maula was the Director-General of the Bangla Academy, he initiated the first Aumor Ekushey Book Fair at the Bangla Academy. But in the end it was not possible to hold a book fair. The present Aumor Ekushey Book Fair was solemnly inaugurated in 1984.