Books of compiled essays written by prominent writers are attracting the booklovers, especially young readers, at the month-long Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela.
Booklovers of all classes including children thronged the fairground on both the parts of Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan premises on Saturday, (the 25th day of the fair) to collect their favorites books following catalogs.
They were seen waiting into long queues to get into the fairground as the Grantha Mela is going to end only three days later.
Kotha Prokash coordinator Shahriar Mahmud told the Daily Observer, "Books on essays attracted usually old aged readers. But now-a-days young book lovers started collecting these books that has also increased the sales of books on this genre."
Sultan Mahmud, a Dhaka University Masters student, bought a series of essays on various prominent writers at Tk 3000.
He bought Srestha Prabandha (Best Essays) of Anisuzzaman, Serajul Islam Choudhury, Ahmed Sharif, Sardar Fazlul Karim, Ahmed Sofa, Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, Hasan Azizul Huq from Kotha Prokash.
"I love essays as it gives me authentic information about any matter which is absent in other genres like poems, novels, and short stories" Mahmud said.
He also said, "I can easily get enough information within a short reading and writers' views towards politics, economy and society from essays that is not possible from other types of writings."
Collected political essays of Humayun Azad and Ahmed Shairf's essay collection (Volume 1-10) published from Agamee Prokashoni drew a good number of booklovers.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's new book 'Nirbachita Prabandha' (selected essays) hit the fair and all the copies of its first edition had already been sold. The second edition was brought to the fair on February 22 while the first edition of the book was published in the begging of this year's Grantha Mela.
Ekdin Jamuny written by journalist Jibon Islam, published by Anyadhara Prokashoni, also attracted readers at the fair.
Besides, this correspondent found the booklovers were collecting books according to the catalogs collected from various publication houses.
Meanwhile, Saturday was the eighth and las Shishu Prohor the month-long fair.
Meanwhile, a total of 163 new books arrived in the book fair while 41 books were unveiled. In the morning, award giving ceremony of a children's art, general knowledge and instant speech competition were held with DU Pro VC (administration) Prof Akhtaruzzaman in the chair.
In the afternoon, a discussion titled 'Children's Literature' was held at the main stage of the Bangla Academy with Jakir Talukdar in the chair.
