'February', the month in which we the Bangalees achieved the demand of getting our mother language 'Bangla' as the state language of our country after a heavy blood-shed in 1952, has arrived. We call this month "Vashar Mash" in Bengali. In every year, in this month the main book fair of Bangladesh has been organized. This book fair is dedicated to the protestors who died on February 21, 1952.Usually the fair continues from the 1st February to 28th. But as this is the leap year the fair continues till the 29th. It is limited only in Bangla Academy's boundary. As 'Ekushey Book Fair' is a national book fair, it is controlled by the Ministry of Culture of Bangladesh. Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina inaugurated 'Amar Ekushey Book Fair', and she said, "Bengali people achieved everything at the cost of sacrifice. Ekushey February is a great inspiration for us. With much expectation, we wait for the book fair all year long, and the martyrs of the Languages Movement had created the expectation for us." Sheikh Hasina also congratulated all the fellows of Bangla Academy marking its 60th founding anniversary this year.
Marking 60 years of the Bangla Academy, the theme of this year's book fair is 'Diamond Jubilee of Bangla Academy'. This year ekushey book fair is organized at bigger area with participation of around 450 publishers. The fair will open at 3:00pm and continue till 8:00pm on working days, while on holidays it will go on from 11:00am to 8:00pm.Additionally, there will be a seminar at the main stage of the fair from February 2 to 29 at 4:00pm.From young to adult everyone comes here to purchase their desired books and to enhance their knowledge regarding different sectors.
There is a foolproof security measures during the book fair prepared with RAB, Police, Ansar, BGB troops, and Detective organizations are in charge of overall security of the fair. Two hundred CC cameras has been covering the entire area also.
The writer is a student of Business Administration Department at East West University (EWU), Dhaka