Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2023 has doubled the festive mood and joy among the students and the people who came to celebrate Pahela Falgun or Valentine's Day or both at the Dhaka University campus area on Tuesday.

Since the morning students, people from different professions and irrespective of colour, creed or religion started gathering in the Dhaka University area wearing colourful Panjabi and Shari as the area has traditionally been a venue for Pahela Falgun and Valentine's Day celebration, while Boi Mela takes place at nearby Bangla Academy every year. 

Besides the huge arrangements of Bosonto Utsab Udzapon committee at the Bakultola of Fine Arts faculty of Dhaka University, several programs have been arranged in Dhaka University area like ‘Somogit Bosonto Utsob' at the historical BotTola of Dhaka, three-day cultural festival at the department of political science and Sangit Utsab at the faculty of Business Studies of Dhaka University to welcome Spring, the king of all season. 

Marking the special day, various floating stalls of flowers and food almost everywhere in the campus area have been set to meet the demands of visitors. Lower markets are busy stocking red roses for the day.

Abid, an eleven-year-old boy who is selling flowers and floral bands walking around busy areas of campus, said that he came in this area from Mouchak of the capital in the morning to sell flowers hoping for better profit. 

“My mother sent me here to sell flowers as many people from different area came here to observe the day and they buy flowers from us. From the morning I have bagged around 800 taka,” he said.

Besides, flower sellers are also waiting to celebrate the day with massive stocks of roses and bouquets for people who are eagerly waiting to celebrate the day with their loved ones. The flower shops at the Shahabag crossing were seen very busy and filled with the traffic of customers.  

On the other hand, the Amar Ekushey book fair 2023 has added an extra festive mood among the people who came to observe the Pahela Falgun in the Dhaka University area, as one of the venues of the Pahela Falgun celebration has been set at Muktamonch of Suhrawardy Uddyan, near the ground of the Amar Ekushey book fair. As a result, most of the visitors who only came to the book fair also joined the Pahela Falgun celebration.

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The 14th of February is also being recognized as Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine. February 14 became a day of celebration over the years following an ancient Roman tradition that has been celebrated mostly in Western countries. Following this global trend, many couples wearing floral bands were seen over the campus area since morning.

Shamima and Kamal came to celebrate Valentine's Day from Mirpur-2. “This is ourfirst valentine day after our marriage though we have a two-year relationship before our marriage. This day reminds us about our beloved ones and we came here to enjoy this day,” Shamima said.

Osman Ahammed, a student who came to the book fair and was enjoying the cultural programs at the Muktamocho of Suharawardy uddyan had a talk with UNB correspondent. He said, “actually I came here in this book fair from Jatrabari of the capital. I did not have any intention to join the Pahela Falgun celebration but when I was crossing by this place, (muktomoncho) cultural programs dragged my interest and I am enjoying it.”

However, huge public gathering at the campus area created severe traffic across the whole campus which made some students unhappy for the rush and gathering of the outsiders.

Moniruzzaman, a final year student of Mass communication and journalism department of the University said, “I usually try to avoid the TSC area on the off days. It becomes hard for students to move freely in such days.”