Book fair boosts sales for Bangla Academy

Whether early afternoon or late evening, a steady crowd has always prevailed at Bangla Academy's sales centre and its two fair stalls on its premises and Suhrawardy Udyan, since the Amar Ekushey Granthamela 2014 began this month.
Moreover, sales of the academy's publications, including many reference and research works, biographies, folk literature and translations, increase during the annual fair in February, the academy's officials told The Daily Star yesterday.
“We had put up the stalls on both venues considering the demand for our publications. By now our sales have crossed over Tk 30 lakh,” said Murshid Anwar, deputy director of the academy's Department of Coordination & Public Relation.
On the first day, many stalls did not sell a single book while the academy's sales stood at Tk 80,687.
A madrasa student, Abrar Ahmed, said he comes every year to check out new releases on languages. “Last year, I did not find a good book on spelling but I heard that I might get one this year,” he said.
This year “Bibortonmulok Bangla Obhidhan”, “Promito Bangla Beboharik Byakaron” and “Tumi Ki Keboli Chhobi”, a picture album on Rabindranath Tagore, grabbed much attention while dictionaries remain in demand as usual, informed salespersons.
Meanwhile, 88 new books arrived while publication ceremonies of 24 were held at the fair.
Today, the fair will open at 12:00pm, instead of at 3:00pm as per the previous schedule, marking Pahela Falgun.