PM to take final decision regarding Ekushey book fair 2021

Bangladesh Desk: The fate of Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2021 in Dhaka depends on the decision of the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, as the cultural affairs ministry has sent the summary of the proposal to the prime minister’s office in this regard.

Faisal Hasan, senior information officer of cultural affairs ministry, confirmed the news to New Age on Tuesday.

Bangla Academy has proposed for a virtual book fair considering the COVID-19 situation while the publishers have demanded that the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2021 should be held at the usual venues with cautionary measures.

‘Cultural affairs ministry has sent the summary of the proposal to the prime minister’s office. We are yet to receive any directives from the PMO regarding whether the fair would be held virtually or physically. Bangla Academy has sent us a proposal for holding the book fair virtually following the academy’s executive council’s meeting,’ Faisal Hasan told New Age.

He also said that the cultural affairs ministry sent letters to the health ministry and the local government division seeking their opinions in this regard.

Farid Ahmed, the owner of Somoy Prakashan and also the president of Academic and Creative Publishers’ Association of Bangladesh, said, ‘We have sent our proposal to the cultural affairs ministry and Bangla Academy for holding a physical book fair following health directives. We also want to start the fair before February 21.’

The book fair began on the Bangla Academy premises informally in 1972, but it became institutionalised in 1978. The fair was named Amar Ekushey Granthamela and a guideline for it was formulated in 1984.