A little piece of Ekushey book fair in Sylhet

While the country ushers in the Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela in Dhaka where hundreds of stalls display thousands of books; a miniature version of the book fair in Sylhet is keeping readers' hearts full.

The fifteen-day book fair, organised by Bangla daily Prothom Alo's youth organisation "Bondhushava" on the premises of Sylhet Central Shaheed Minar is steadily gathering pace since February 1.

Eminent folk musician and Ekushey Padak laureate Sushma Das inaugurated the book fair, where eminent personalities of the city were present.

The fair is being dedicated to the memory of late Moinuddin Ahmed Jalal, former adviser to Sylhet Bondhushava.

Cultural presentations like songs, poetry and dances are being staged on the Muktamancha (open stage) of the Shaheed Minar every day, adding to the air of festivity.

This year, 22 publications -- including Prothoma, Kothaprokash, Utsho Prokashon, Batighar, Onnesha Prokashon, Rodela Prokashon -- are participating at the book fair.

With the fair continuing from 3pm to 8pm every day, hundreds of people are coming in with family and friends, choosing and buys books from stalls, and taking photos in a photo frame in the middle of the fair.

Shah Sikandar Sakir, president of Sylhet Bondhushava, said, “The organisation has been arranging the book fair for last three years to give the readers a touch of Ekushey Boimela in Sylhet.”

The book fair, which is being organised in association with Sylhet City Corporation, will end on February 15.