Amar Ekushey Boi Mela
'Fair should be fair of publishers, not sellers'
Books to be sold at 30% discount
Staff Correspondent
Ahead of 'Amar Ekushey Boi Mela' starting on February 1 in the city, a group of publishers at a press briefing yesterday urged the authorities to implement the 'Boi-Mela' policies formulated by the Bangla Academy and stressed that it should be the fair of publishers, not that of sellers.The publishers under the banner of 'Creative Publishers' Association, Dhaka' demanded launching of a website, forming a computerised media cell, taking stringent security measures, arranging four entrance gates including a separate gate for the intellectuals and authors at the fair and lighting from TSC to the Doyel Chattar. To attract the readers and discourage the non-publisher sellers, this year publishers will sell books at 30 percent discount, the association leaders said. Saeed Bari of Shuchipatra Prokashani and executive director of the association read out a written statement at the press briefing held at the Central Public Library seminar room in the city. K M Firoz Khan of Khan Brothers and Co emphasised that no publisher should be allowed to sell the books of other publishers. 'The fair should not turn to a book market like Nilkhet or New Market. For this, only exclusive books should be exhibited in the fair.' He added. Osman Gani of Agamee Prokashani appreciated the initiatives taken so far by the government and the Bangla Academy to hold the fair smoothly. Robin Ahsan of Shrabon Prokashani and Harunur Rashid of Mira Prokashani were also present in the briefing. The leaders expressed hope that in future publishers themselves would organise the book fair.
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