Inspiring young minds

The Ekushey book fair is the perfect place for readers to satisfy their literary palates. It is an event unlike any other. Every day people of all ages throng the fair to indulge in the pleasure of reading.

And, a large part of the bookworms are youths, always in search of new and exciting literary journeys.

Amid the rendezvous of book enthusiasts, the youths were seen swarming the stalls -- 358 and 359 -- Daily Star Books.

The stalls, with its wide range of selections -- books on the Liberation War, collections of editorials published by The Daily Star, essays, biographies and novels -- were drawing readers' attention.

Md Rafique, a private medical college student, was reading “Have a Nice Day” by Dr Rubaiul Morshed. “It's very informative,” he said.

While, Muhammad Sheblee, also a private university student, had his eyes fixed on “Genocide” by Inam Ahmed and Shakhawat Liton.

Daily Star Books at its stall is also displaying “Challenging Injustice in South Asia” by Rehman Sobhan, “Kaler Porikkha” by Tamijuddin Khan, “Demons” by Nesar Nadim, “Kishor Muktijoddha” by Mostafa Hossain and “Humorously Yours and Counting” by Naveed Mahbub.

So far, Daily Star Books brought five new books at this year's book fair. Those include “Sangrami Nari 52 o Ektattor (interview)” edited by Bashar Khan and “Bangalee Musolmaner Buddhibrittik Bibhrom o Bishwashinota” by Syed Abul Maksud.

In total, it is showcasing 37 books at the fair. Of them, eight are in Bangla and 29 in English.

With an aim to provide readers with the best of books written in English at a price compatible with the local market, Daily Star Books is participating in the fair for the fourth time.

“Our books are for the readers who like to think and want to know more. This is the reason we sell books on personalities such as Abul Mansur Ahmad,” said Emran Mahfuz, coordinator of Daily Star Books. “We also want to encourage the youths to read books, which are thought provoking.”

Emran's poetry collection “Dirghasthayee Sokshobha”, published by Oitijhya publication also hit the book fair this year.

Meanwhile, Tahmima Anam's “A Golden Age” and “The Bones of Grace” remained a popular choice at Daily Star Books.

At the same time, the translated version of the author's first novel, “A Golden Age”, a densely packed, lyrically written narrative set during Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence, is also much sought after by the young readers.

Suraiya Jesmine, a former student of Dhaka University, said, “The book is very inspiring. I hope there are more translated novels like this one.”

Besides, readers were also enriching their literary experience by buying “Srestho Golpo” by Abul Mansur Ahmad, “1971” by Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay and “Malicious Gossip” by Khushwant Singh from the stall.