Change of venue stressed
Publishers, readers and writers have suggested organising the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela at a larger venue as the Bangla Academy premises is not large enough to accommodate the increasing number of visitors.
“I don't think it is mandatory to organise the book fair on the Bangla Academy premises every year. In future it would really be difficult to accommodate all these visitors only on the Academy premises,” said popular writer Humayun Ahmed on Tuesday.
“The publishers with the help of the authorities concerned can choose a larger venue to hold the fair next year,” he suggested.
Noted writer and researcher Prof Muntasir Mamun said, “Comparing with the other fairs across the world, we cannot say that the present venue is an ideal one to organise such a big one like the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela, as hundreds of people throng the fair every day.”
“In future, there might be a clash between the publishers and the Bangla Academy authorities when the latter would not be able to accommodate the increasing number of stalls on its premises,” he added.
“The association of the publishers through the cultural affairs ministry should take proper initiatives to choose a larger venue,” he also said.
Mohammad Shahadat Hossain, publisher of the Annesha Prokashan, said if the authorities decide to change it, they should fix only one venue like the International Trade Fair, otherwise it would lose its popularity.
“The playground of the Dhaka University might be an ideal place to organise the fair as it is large enough to accommodate a large number of stalls. It will also encourage more visitors to come since many people feel reluctant to come to the fair now as the present venue is too congested.”
Director General of the Bangla Academy Syed Mohammad Shahed said, “Some publishers want to change the present venue while some others have opposed it apprehending that the fair might lose popularity and the sale of books might also be affected.”
Bani Yasmin, a student of Dhaka University said, “I can't imagine the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela being held at some other place instead of the Bangla Academy premises as we have been accustomed to going there every year.”
Instead of changing the venue suddenly, she suggested allowing more stalls in the adjacent areas like the Suhrawardy Udyan to address the problem.
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