Kids enjoy with Bangla alphabets

A group of children was drawing pictures whereas another group was taking part in a Bangla language writing competition.

Meanwhile, some highly exuberant children were taking selfies with huge Bangla alphabets in the backdrop.   

This was the scenario of the eighth edition of Barna Mela-2017, a fair projecting the history of the 1952 Language Movement, on the premises of the capital's Residential Model College yesterday. Bangla daily Prothom Alo organised the fair which was swarmed by the children accompanied by their parents.

There were a number of stalls including Barnopohar, Barnacaricature, Barnabiral and Hatekhari. The fairground was also decorated with huge Bangla alphabets to create enthusiasm among the new generation for the language.

Besides, colourful and decorated alphabets created by children with mud, rope, paper or metal, which earlier got selected by the organiser, were put on display in the middle of the field. The fair saw the cheerful presence of children who thronged there to participate in the competition in three age groups.

Eminent Tagore exponent Rezwana Choudhury Bannya inaugurated the daylong programme that started at 9:00am.

In the middle of the fair, the main stage named Barnamancha was surrounded by parents and children who were being entertained by magic shows, and performance of songs and rhymes.

Azad Saad, a second-grader of an English-medium school, who came along with his father, was happy as he could buy a badge printed with a Bangla alphabet. “I like this alphabet as it is the first letter of my name," he said.

In a stall, children were seen taking photos with Mustafa Jabbar, creator of Bijoy Bangla Software. “Since the starting of the fair I have been observing the children, and their participation has amazed me,” said Mustafa.

A prototype of Shaheed Minar, memorial for the Language Movement martyrs, was set up on the south side of the fair so that children could pay homage to the language heroes. Noted cultural personality Afzal Hossain was there in a stall named Hatekhari, inspiring children and helping them write Bangla alphabets.

Book stalls including Prothama Prokashan and Kishor Alo also became the centre of attraction for children.