Research books also in demand
With an array of selections, the Ekushey book fair is an event unlike any other as it can satisfy anyone's literary palate.
Alongside novels, poetry books, biographies and many more genres, 39 research and service-oriented organisations are also taking part in the month-long book fair this year, offering booklovers rare documents, study reports and journals.
A good number of budding researchers and university students were seen thronging various stalls at the Bangla Academy.
Most of those stalls are focused on connecting people who are interested in the field of research. Moreover, many are also showcasing rare documents such as study reports and journals.
Salespersons and volunteers at the stalls said more research-based organisations should be given a scope to participate at the fair.
Jharna Khanam, a senior officer at the ASK documentation section, said they have been at the fair since 2002. The organisation offers various documents, books, and publications.
Mohammad Ashraf-uz-Zaman, a traffic sergeant at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, was looking for some legal service-oriented books at the stall of rights organisation, Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), on the Bangla Academy premises yesterday. “Stalls like these would help people,” he said.
A good number of university students were seen crowding the stall of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
“Alongside literature, many students are also into research. They want to know about corruption and the consequences of climate change,” said Wasim Reza, a communication official at TIB.
Wasim opined that if there were more research-based books and organisations at the fair, people would be able to know more about research-oriented activities.
Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) and the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) also have stalls at the book fair.
Shoeb Siddique, junior administrative associate of CPD, said their focus is to build awareness among people about the organisation. Rezaul Karim, a salesperson at BIDS, said alongside latest study reports, they are also displaying and selling reports published back in 1989.
Rural Development Academy, Bogra and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Foundation are also selling research-based books at the fair. Yesterday, 144 new books arrived. Rakibul Islam's “Abokash Anubhuti”, a novel on inter-family relationships is available at Darikoma Prokashoni.