Ekushey Boi Mela opens

A female child along with her guardians looking for books of her choice on the first day of Amar Ekushey Book Fair on Bangla Academy premises today. Photo: Palash Khan

The month-long Amar Ekushey Boi Mela 2014 began today on the Bangla Academy premises and on a part of Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital to accommodate more book stalls.

The 31st Amar Ekushey Boi Mela has been dedicated to recently deceased Muhammad Habibur Rahman, a language hero, former chief justice, and chief adviser of the country's first caretaker government. 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the month-long exhibition of books this afternoon.

This year a total of 299 publication houses, government, non-government and autonomous organisations and socio-cultural bodies are participating in the fair through 534 units of stalls.

Of those, 432 units were allotted to 232 publication houses at Suhrawardy Udyan and the rest to 67 publication houses, including 24 for children and juveniles.

This year, special visiting hours for women and children will be available on four days.

The fair will keep open for all from 3:00pm to 9:00pm on working days and from 11:00am to 9:00pm on weekends. On February 21, International Mother Language Day, it will remain open from 8:00 in the morning till 9:00pm.