Night book fair

Dhaka: The book fair will open in the evening and the doors of the Bengali life festival will open. After the inauguration, the fair will take place every day from 3 to 8:30 p.m.

However, the fair will start at 11 am on public holidays.

In other years, the language fair started on the first day of February, but this time it is in March due to the situation in Corona. After Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the virtual book fair at 3pm on Thursday, the doors of the book fair will officially open for book lovers.

This time, considering Corona’s situation, special importance is being given to health awareness at the book fair. You cannot enter a book fair without a mask. Security will be reinforced at each entrance. Only if you have a mask will you be able to enter the 1st level of the fair. Your body temperature will then be measured and, if correct, disinfected. Finally, writers, readers and visitors will be able to enter the main fair observing security.

In addition, the administration authorities and the academy will monitor the matter so that no one takes off their mask after entering the fair.

This year’s fair will cover an area of ​​approximately 1.5 million square feet of the Bangla Academy facilities and the historic Suhrawardy Udyan. In the academy premises, 154 units have been assigned to 104 institutions and in the Suhrawardy Udyan section, 60 units have been assigned to 433 institutions and 634 units have been assigned to a total of 540 institutions. There will be 33 pavilions at the fair. Little Magazine’s facilities have been moved to the main Suhrawardy Udyan fairgrounds. There, 135 LittleMags seats have been allocated, as well as 140 seats with 5 open positions.

There will be a book stand at the National Library for those who have published books at the initiative of individual and private small publishers. Bangla Academy and other institutions participating in the fair will sell books at a 25% commission. Bangla Academy will have 3 pavilions, 1 booth for children’s books and 1 booth for Sahitya Monthly Heritage. This time too, Suhrawardy Udyan will be at the children’s fair. However, due to the situation in Corona, there will be no “babysitting” at first. The decision will be made later considering the situation.

A new entrance has been built at the eastern end of Suhrawardy Udyan to enter the fair. An entrance and parking have been fixed at the end of Ramna. In total, Suhrawardy will have 3 inputs and 3 outputs. There will be a secure tent at each entrance, so that people can take shelter in the rain and storm. Also, you cannot enter the fair without a mask. You have to enter the fair only after measuring your body temperature. Suhrawardy Udyan will have a presentation ceremony for a new book this time.

The structure has been built with special importance since there is a risk of storm at this fair. Considering the danger of rain and storm, 4 emergency shelters have been established in Suhrawardy Udyan. This time it will have a rapid drainage system for rainwater from the fairgrounds. The author says that the stage and the place to unveil the book have been specially constructed. The prayer rooms and bathrooms have been expanded and improved. There will be expanded prayer rooms for women. There will also be a breastfeeding corner near the police control room. The wheelchair service will be available as every year. However, more volunteers will participate in this work than last time. There will be two food courts at the east and west ends of Suhrawardy Udyan.

Bangladesh time: 0055 hours, March 18, 2021
HMS / RA