Boi Mela sees 78 new books on third day
Mentally and physically challenged Imtiaz Hasan Abir, a student of class-III, looks at books as his mother took him to Amar Ekushey Boi Mela yesterday.Photo: STAR
A total of 78 new books from 30 publications arrived at the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela on the third day of the fair yesterday.
However, only a few stalls, which brought books by some popular writers, drew the crowd of readers.
Onnyaprokash, Pearl Publications, Anupam Publications, Shikha Prokashoni, Kakali Prokashoni, Charulipi Prokashan, Afsar Brothers, Ityadi Grontho Prokash brought titles by Humayun Ahmed, Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, Imdadul Haq Milon, Rabeya Khatun, Anisul Haq, Badaruddin Omar, Hayat Mamud, Ahsan Habib, Syed Manzurul Islam, Sumanto Aslam, Nasrin Jahan and Anupam Hayat, among others.
Of the stalls, Onnyaprokash had to struggle hard to handle a large number of readers who came to buy titles by Humayun Ahmed--"Aj Dupure Tomar Nimontran" and "Manobi".
Around 12 schoolgirls were seen shouting the names of their desired books. They were standing a little far from the Onnyaprokash stall because of the crowd. But the booksellers were too busy with the customers at the counter and could not manage time to pay attention to the girls.
Two more books by Humayun--"Bhoot Amar Poot" and "Ball Point"--were launched yesterday.
Other new titles that arrived at the fair yesterday include "Meyetir Naam Narina" and "Octopuser Chokh" by Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, "Maya", "Bijoyee Hobey Bangladesh" and "Mon+Hridoy" by Anisul Haq, "Hello Thagbaj" and "Ke Tumi" by Sumanto Aslam, "Mon", "O Bondhu Amar" and "Phele Asha Lal Golap" by Imadadul Haq Milon, "Kuwashar Bhor" by Rabeya Khatun, "Shabdokalpodrum" by Hayat Mamud, "Samorik Tatwabadhayak Sarkarer Amoley Bangladesh" by Badaruddin Omar, "Kanagolir Manushera" by Syed Manzurul Islam, "Andharey Rongeen Rakhal" by Nasrin Jahan, "Singaporer Singhalee Saheb" by Faridur Reza Sagar.
Apart from these few stalls there was not much crowd at the fair yesterday like the first two evenings. Booksellers spent idle time at many stalls even around 7:00pm. But sellers were not frustrated.
"This is only the third day of the fair--people are coming and browsing through books. They are yet to start buying," said Abdur Rahman of Mowla Brothers.
"The sale is not much yet. We hope it will increase by next Friday and Saturday," said Shariful Islam of Oitijjo.
The dust menace was also not as much as the two other days.
A number of people from outside Dhaka visited the fair yesterday.
Shah Alam, a 60-year-old schoolteacher, came from Mymensingh to buy books for his school's library. He expressed satisfaction at the overall arrangement of the fair but complained about high prices of books.
Sohel, Russell and Manik, students of class X, came from Chittagong. But Manik said they did not find many new books at the fair.
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