A sea of red and yellow

People were coming hand in hand, wearing yellow and red color dresses. Celebrations of Pahela Fagun and Valentine's Day were in the air everywhere yesterday, especially at the premises of Ekushey Boi Mela.

Many couples, friends and families chose the book fair to spend quality time with their loved ones. Some were even seen reading poetry to their partners, while checking out books at different stalls.

Many people visited the book fair to gift books to their loved ones on the occasion of Pahela Falgun and Valentine's Day.

Risat and Ananya came to the fair hand in hand yesterday afternoon. The two have been married for four years. Talking to this correspondent, Ananya said she buys Anisul Huq's books every year at the fair.

There were many arrangements at the book fair as well. The unveiling ceremony of Sumana Gupta's first poem book "Mayavhara Ayanginar Path" is one of them. Bangla Academy Sahitya Puroskar winner writer Masud Uzzaman, writers Swakrito Noman and Mojaffor Hossain were unveiling the book in front of the  Shrabon Prokashani.

Besides, a discussion programme on the translation of Bangla literature and Bangla translation of foreign literature was held at the main stage of the fair. Papers were presented by GH Habib and Shamsuddin Chowdhury. The discussion was attended by Sampad Barua, Rafiq-um-Munir Chowdhury, Prof Md Abu Zafar and Mahbooba Rahman. Fakrul Alam presided over the event.

Meanwhile, Jannatun Nayeem Prity's book "Jonmo o Jonir Itihash" has been declared banned in the ongoing book fair.

Redwanur Rahman Jewel, publisher of Nalonda, said, "We stopped selling Prity's book at the fair as the task force told us not to. However, the book can be found in Banglabazar.''

 Ashim Kumar Dey, chairman of Bangla Academy taskforce, said in this book, various issues have come up against the rules of the book fair. These include attacks on personal, objectionable comments on eminent personnels.