The biggest book fair of Bangladesh ‘Ekushey Boi Mela’ was inaugurated in Dhaka on Wednesday by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. It is for the first time after three years that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the book-fair in person at the Bangla Academy venue.
The theme of this year’s book fair is ‘Poro Boi, Goro Desh: Bangbandhur Bangladesh’- Read books, build the country, a country of Bangabandhu’s dream.
The month-long book fair is being organised on the grounds of the historic Suhrawardy Udyan and the Bangla Academy. More than 900 stalls have been allotted to 601 organisations on both the venues. A total of 38- pavilions have also been allocated this year.
Prime Minister Hasina also unwrapped seven books on the occasion including a compilation of books written by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and a few others on the life and work of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Sheikh Hasina also distributed the Bangla Academy Award 2022 in recognition of the literary works in Bangla.
Ekushey Book Fair started in 1972 to commemorate the sacrifices of people killed by Pakistani forces on 21 February 1952 demanding Bangla as the mother language for the then East Pakistan. It has been organised every year by the Bangla Academy since 1978.