Dhaka Book Fair from Jan 1

National Book Center's 11th Dhaka Book Fair 2005 will begin on the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy premises in the city January 1.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is expected to inaugurate the 15-day book fair to be sponsored by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, National Book Centre (NBC) sources said.

Khaleda introduced the fair in 1995 during her first tenure as Prime Minister. "Family library enlightens the home" is the theme of the fair that will be participated by the publishers from home and abroad, the sources said.

Meanwhile, 100 local publishers collected entry forms to participate in the fair. NBC also invited foreign publishers to participate. Those who published at least 10 new books in the previous year are eligible for participating in the book fair.

Entry fee for the fair will be Tk 2 per person while the school students will get free entry if they come along with their teachers carrying authentication from the school authorities.