Amar Ekushey Boi Mela: Readers hungry for new books

Although the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela is yet to go in full bloom, bookworms are already scouting the stalls looking for new reading material.

Some fair attendees are beginning their hunt by collecting catalogues of new books from different publication houses. Looking at all the lists would help them make their decision on what to buy this year, they said.

With new books making their entrance every day. Since the opening of the fair at 3:00pm, the information centre ceaselessly announces the advent of new titles.

Arrangements have been made for authors to interact with the readers directly, via the "Lekhok Bolchhi" stage. On another stage, new books are being unveiled every day. With each passing day, the fair is getting more happening, and so are the sales.

Yesterday at 4:00pm, a discussion programme, titled "Birth Centenary Tribute: Ustad Ali Akbar Khan", was announced to be held on the main stage of the fair located in its Bangla Academy venue.

In that programme, Saim Rana presented the main essay, where he said the reason behind the worldwide fame of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan is his unique style of playing and creativity. In August 1971, Ustad Ali Akbar performed at Madison Square Garden in the "Concert for Bangladesh", organised by famous Beatle George Harrison to the millions of war-ridden refugees of the Liberation War of Bangladesh.

"Ali Akbar Khan conquered the whole world with his music, to the point that his music became synonymous with magic," said Sheikh Sadi Khan, the chair of the discussion.

Meanwhile, on the authors' stage, Habib Anisur Rahman, Gazi Azizur Rahman, Rasel Raihan and Ismat Shilpi talked to the readers about their new books. 

The evening brought the initiation of a cultural event on the main stage, filled with the performances of recitation artists and singers.

The unveiling ceremony of Suraiya Parveen's poem collection "Megheder Shaishab" (Sahitya Koth), was held at Suhrawardy Uddan.

According to Bangla Academy, 114 new books were published at the fair yesterday.

Potakay Didibhaiyer Mukh by Sangita Imam (Panjeree), Kartike Boshonto by Mohit Kamal (Biddyaprokash), Michael-er Jiban O Patrabali (Life and Letters of Michael Madhusudan Dutt) by Ghulam Murshid (Abosar), Koyekjon Deho by Swakrito Noman (Pathak Shamabesh), Narider Ekattor edited by Afsan Chowdhury (UPL), Path-Prantare by Imtiar Shamim (Kathaprokash) were among the 114 books.