United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus will inaugurate the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025 on February 1. Commemorating the memory of the martyrs of the Language Movement, the traditional festivity of Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025 is all set to begin with this year’s theme “July Gono Obbhuthyan: Notun Bangladesh Binirman” (The July Uprising: Rebuilding a New Bangladesh”). Amar Ekushey Book Fair Organising Committee members disclosed the details of this year's fair at a press conference on Thursday at the academy's Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad (AKSB) auditorium. Committee members including the Bangla Academy Director General and committee President Dr Mohammad Azam, Bangla Academy Secretary Dr Md Selim Reza, and Amar Ekushey Book Fair Committee Secretary Dr Sarkar Amin were present. 3-day non-fiction book fair begins at Dhaka University A total of 708 publishers will participate in the fair with 99 stalls at the Bangla Academy and 609 at Suhrawardy Udyan. Some 642 publishers participated in the last year’s fair. The fair will feature 37 pavilions- one at Bangla Academy and 36 at Suhrawardy Udyan. A dedicated space for little magazines has been allocated near the open stage of Suhrawardy Udyan, hosting around 130 stalls. The Children’s Corner, with 74 publishers and 120 units (up from 68 publishers and 109 units last year), will be expanded near the Ramna temple gate to ensure easy access for children. The layout of the book fair will remain similar to last year, with some adjustments. Islamic Book Fair inaugurated by religious affairs adviser Due to the proximity of the metro rail station, the exit gate has been moved closer to the temple gate. Four entry and exit points will be available at TSC, Doyel Chattar, the MRT basing plant, and the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB). Food stalls will be organised along the IEB boundary, while 30 washrooms have been installed across the fair venue this year, the highest number in the fair’s history, the organisers said at the press conference. Security will be ensured by police, RAB, Ansar, and intelligence agencies, with over 300 CCTV cameras installed across the venue, while archways will be set up at all entry and exit points. Daily seminars will take place at 4 pm on the main stage, followed by cultural performances in the evening. Book launch ceremonies will also be held at Suhrawardy Udyan. A special “Children’s Hour” will run from 11 am to 1 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, excluding February 8 and 15. Like previous editions, several recreational activities including art, recitation, and music competitions for children and teenagers will be organised as part of the fair’s activities. This year, the Amar Ekushey Book Fair aims to be eco-friendly and zero-waste, according to the organisers. All participants and book fair stakeholders are encouraged and requested to use sustainable materials like jute, fabric, and paper instead of single-use plastics. Dhaka University hosts three-day Winter Book Fair at TSC Bangla Academy is publishing 43 new titles and reprinting 41 books, which will be available at three dedicated pavilions and a children’s stall. Books from Bangla Academy and participating publishers will be sold at a 25% discount. The fair will remain open from 3 to 9 pm on weekdays and 11 am to 9 pm on holidays, except for February 8 and 15. Marking the International Mother Language Day on February 21, the fair will begin at 8 am and run until 9 pm. Following its previous traditions, several awards will be handed over to outstanding publications from 2024, including the Chittaranjan Saha Memorial Award for quality publications, the Munier Chowdhury Memorial Award for artistic excellence, Rokonuzzaman Khan Dadabhai Memorial Award for children’s literature, and the Qayyum Chowdhury Memorial Award for aesthetic stall design. The Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025 is sponsored by Rocket (Dutch-Bangla Bank PLC), with Ama Tea and Savoy Ice Cream as co-sponsors while Dreamer Donkey is the event management partner for this year's fair.

Renowned Bangladeshi journalist Azad Majumder’s  first book "Inside the Press Box: Sports Journalism in Bangladesh Context," is now available at this year’s Ekushey Book Fair. The book explains the fundamentals of sports journalism in simple language. Drawing from his two-decade-long career in sports journalism, the author shares his personal experiences in the context of Bangladesh's sports journalism. While many books exist on sports journalism, few shed light on its unique context in Bangladesh. Throughout his long career, Azad reported for various news organizations including Reuters, AFP, and the local newspaper New Age, among others. Inside the Press Box: Sports Journalism in Bangladesh Contextis would be a great resource for anyone interested in sports journalism, especially in the Bangladeshi context. The author, Azad, is a journalism graduate from the top educational institutions in the country, and has been working in the field for over two decades. This impressive background provides readers with a clear idea of the author's expertise and the valuable insights they can expect to gain from the book. With 12 chapters and a length of about 100 pages, the book provides a beautiful illustration of the context of sports journalism in Bangladesh. The author's personal experiences offer valuable insights into the industry, making it an excellent resource not only for young and aspiring journalists but also for those already working in the field. The book covers a wide range of topics in sports journalism, including the basic concepts, fact-checking, interviewing, and the use of data journalism. It also addresses the challenges of sports journalism in the rise of technology and the importance of accepting these challenges. Additionally, the author discusses the role of objectivity and nationalism in sports journalism. The language of this book is straightforward and uncomplicated, making it accessible to a broad audience. Whether you're a novice journalist, a journalism student, or an individual fascinated by sports journalism, this book is bound to quench your thirst for knowledge. “Inside the Press Box: Sports Journalism in Bangladesh Context” is available at the Oitijjhya stall of the ongoing Ekushe Book Fair.    

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday inaugurated the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2023, the annual event of booklovers and publishers, in the capital. The premier opened the country’s biggest book fair in the afternoon, joining its inaugural ceremony in person on the Bangla Academy premise after a gap of three years induced by Covid-19 pandemic. The fair is being held on the Academy premises and its adjoining Suhrawardy Udyan with the theme “Poro Boi, Goro Desh-Bangabandhu’r Bangladesh” (Read Books, Build the Country as Bangladesh dreamt by Bangabandhu). Addressing the opening ceremony, the prime minister stressed the need for translation of Bengali literary works in foreign languages to reach out to the non-Bengali readers as well as for creation of digital versions of books to reach the larger readers. She said 21st February got recognition as the international mother language day. So, a large responsibility was bestowed upon Bangladesh to make Bengali language familiar to the world arena in a massive way, she said. “If we want to do it, we need to translate and put emphasis on the translation of our literary works,” said  Hasina. She said all the books of Bengali literature, which would be published, should be translated into different languages, not only one or two books in a year.  Hasina said Bangla Academy and International Mother Language Institute can jointly take the initiative for the translation of Bengali literary works. Noting that the Father of the Nation once arranged an international literature fair, she asked Bangla Academy to take such initiatives for hosting international fair on its premise. The PM thanked Bangla Academy for arrangement of book fairs in the districts saying that there is now scope and facilities to arrange such events even in upazila level as there are cultural academies in every area. “Our young generation will stay away from drugs, terrorism and militancy as much as we can attract them into our literature and cultural exercises. Then they would get scope to lead normal life and flourish their talents through the practice of literature,” she said. She said the scope for sports, practices of literature and culture should be taken to even the grassroots level of the country for the grooming of the young generations. Also read: Amar Ekushey Book Fair to continue until March 17: State Minister Mentioning that now it is digital era and her government made the country as digital Bangladesh, the PM said it is very essential to make digital versions including audio versions of books to reach out to larger readers. Though reading the digital version of a book doesn’t give the real satisfaction, such versions should be created to create scopes for wider readers, she said. The book fair will remain open for the visitors from 3 pm to 9 pm on working days and 11:00 am to 9 pm on the holidays. However, the visitors can enter the fair on International Mother Language Day at 8am, and all entrance points will be closed after 8.30pm every day. A total of 901 stalls have been allocated to 601 organisations for this year’s book fair, compared to 776 stalls to 534 organisations last year. Of these, 165 stalls have been allocated to 112 organizations on the Bangla Academy premises, the rest 736 stalls to 489 organizations at Suhrawardy Udyan.  Moreover, a total of 38 pavilions have been allocated this year. All the 489 stalls inside Suhrawardi Udyan have been set up in a way so that a visitor can see the whole fairground from any corner. The temple gate of the Suhrawardi Udyan is the main entrance, which is located opposite the Bangla Academy. Also, there are three more entrances and exits nearby the Teacher-Student Center (TSC), Doyel Chattar and the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB). The entire fair zone will be closely monitored by more than 300 CCTV cameras. At the opening ceremony, the prime minister distributed the Bangla Academy Sahitya Puroshkar-2022 (Bangla Academy Literary Award 2022) among its recipients. She handed over the award to the 15 recipients under 11 categories. Each awardee received a cheque for award money, a crest and a certificate. Faruk Mahmud and Tarik Sujat received the award for poetry, while Taposh Mojumdar and Parvez Hossain for novels, Masuduzzaman for essays/research and Alam Khorshed for translation. The other awardees are Milan Kanti Dey and Farid Ahmad Dulal for drama, Druba Esh for juvenile literature, Muhammad Shamsul Haque for research on the Liberation War, Subhash Singha Roy for research on Bangabandhu, Mokarram Hossain for science/science fiction/environmental science, Iktiar Chowdhury for biography and travelogue and Professor Abdul Khaleq and Professor Mohammad Abdul Jalil for folklore. The Bangla Academy Sahitya Puroshkar is given in recognition of creativity and talents in advancement and overall contributions to the field of Bengali language and literature. The Prime Minister unveiled the cover of seven new books published by Bangla Academy. The books include Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Rachonaboli Volume-I edited by Sheikh Hasina, Amar Jibanniti Amar Rajniti composed by Abdul Hamid, Asamapta Ajmajibani Path Bislashan, Karagarer Rojnamcha Path Bislashan and Amar Dekha Nayachin Path Bislashan composed by Mohammad Nurul Huda. After the inauguration of the fair, Sheikh Hasina visited different stalls there.   The book fair is arranged every year in February commemorating the sacrifices of language heroes who laid down their lives on February 21, 1952, for establishing Bangla as an official language of the then-Pakistan along with Urdu. Bangladesh was the eastern wing of Pakistan until its liberation in 1971. But the traditional dates of the fair got shifted for the past two editions due to Covid-19 pandemic. The traditional Amar Ekushey Book Fair had started informally in 1972 on the Bangla Academy premises and then in 1978 the academy officially took the responsibility of arranging the fair every year. Bangabandhu’s youngest daughter Sheikh Rehana was present in the inaugural ceremony presided over by Bangla Academy President novelist Selina Hossain.  State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Abul Monsur, Bangla Academy Director General poet Nurul Huda and president of Bangladesh Book Publishers and Sellers Association Arif Hossain Choton spoke on the occasion.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq said a three-tier security has been taken in and around the Ekushey Book Fair venue. The DMP commissioner said this while talking to reporters  after visiting the book fair venue at Suhrawardy Udyan on Tuesday afternoon. Read more: Ekushey Book Fair to span entire February again after two years He said there is no specific threat to anyone centering the  book fair. “However, if any author or publisher feels insecurity, we will keep a close eye on him/her,” he added. CCTV cameras have been installed at the fair venue. Besides, 1500 police personnel will be deployed to ensure the overall security of the fair. Read more: DMP bans gathering, carrying of arms around JS He also said that they have made special arrangements so that visitors can easily enter the book fair. There will be separate gates for entering and exiting the fair and the visitors will be checked by the archway and metal detectors, added the DMP chief. There will be parking arrangements at the fair venue, he said.

Two days after the delayed Ekushey book fair opened some publishers were still seen decorating their stalls amid slow but cautious arrival of book lovers on Wednesday. One-third of total stalls were still found to be vacant as the fair was launched on February 14 (Monday) under the shadow of Covid-19 pandemic. Read: PM inaugurates Ekushey Book Fair-2022 The traditional opening of the fair was scheduled for February 1 for a month. But it was delayed due to the spread of the virus since last month. Rahad Uddin, a visitor, said, "I came here to observe the situation. The fair is yet to get momentum. I think it will take 3 to 5 more days for the fair to be on full gear." "I was looking for a book but I didn’t find it. Sellers told me to come after 2 days", he added. Asked about the reason of the delay in decorating stall, manager of a publishing house blamed it on uncertainty. Read:DMP takes steps to ensure security at Ekushey book fair Speaking on condition of anonymity he said many of the publishers were in doubt if the fair will take place at all. "I hope, we will be able to sell books from tomorrow in full swing and we are also hopeful about making up our losses incurred last year", he added.

In a world gripped by a growing craze for graphic novels, Bangladesh has presented its own based not on imaginary characters but a real-life hero.  The Mujib Graphic novel, depicting Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's life in ten instalments, is Bangladesh's answer to the American DC comics and the Japanese Manga.  The country's millennial can now do without the Demon Slayer or Watch the Titans.  They can enjoy the amazing story of a boy from a rural outback rise like a Titan to slay the demon - the Pakistani military junta, said a press release. Read: Fair-weather fans unwelcome: Radwan Mujib

Adequate measures have been taken to ensure foolproof security ahead  of Ekushey Book Fair, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam. “Book fair is a festival like Pahela Baishakh and  ensuring  security at the fair is one of the biggest responsibilities  of DMP,” he said while talking to reporters over the overall security measures at Suhrawardy Uddyan on Sunday. Read: Ekushey book fair extension depends on Covid situation: Khalid This year security will be tightened at book fair premises, Shaheed Minar to Shahbag and Nilkhet and  primary checking  teams will be deployed in the areas, said the DMP Boss. No vehicles will be allowed at book fair premises and there will be six entrances, he said adding everyone should enter the fair venue through the archway after metal detector checking.

Bangla Academy has started its all-out preparations to hold the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair, one of the most sought-after events for the booklovers and writers, at it will kick off on February 1. “Bangla Academy has started its preparations for the book fair and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate it,” member secretary of the Book Fair Committee Dr Jalal Uddin told UNB. "This year's fair will be a special one, we’re decorating the fairground considering the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence,” he said. Also read: Ekushey Book Fair: 3 publishing houses awarded for using bKash Indeed, the main theme of the upcoming book fair is Bangabandhu’s birth centenary and Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh, Dr Jalal added.

This year’s Amar Ekushey Boi Mela (Book Fair) is unlike anything the country has seen. There are stalls and books but hardly any visitor and people willing to buy books. A recent surge in Coronavirus cases and subsequent clampdown by the government to contain the transmission have only complicated the situation for the publishers who say they are counting huge losses every day. It is especially hard for small publishers. The Bangla Academy went ahead with the fair ignoring recommendations of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Salespersons at the fair said that there was hardly any sale. Most people are here for visit, not to buy books, they said. “This edition lacks the vibe and lustre of a regular book fair,” one of the salespersons said. “The usual crowd of visitors, writers and publishers is missing. The sale has been frustrating.” Also read: Boi Mela to be open for 3.5 hours a day due to COVID-19

Amar Ekushey Boil Mela (Book Fair) will conclude  on April 12, just two days before its closure schedule, due to the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country. State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid made the announcement through a press release on Saturday. The decision of closure comes at a time when the government is going to enforce a week-long strict lockdown across the country starting from April 14, aimed at curbing the Covid-19 transmission. Also read:  Nat’l committee for stopping Ekushey Book Fair as Covid cases surge Talking to UNB, Dr Jalal Ahmed, director of Bangla Academy and member secretary of Ekushey Book Fair Committee, said, "The book fair will end on April 12 ahead of countrywide week long strict lockdown from April 14," The book fair that started on March 18 amid the resurgence of Covid-19 and was scheduled to end on April 14, failed to get its usual momentum with publishers and sellers fearing to incur huge losses in their businesses. Also read: Ekushey Book Fair to remain open from 12 to 5pm amid lockdown Although the government enforced a weeklong lockdown from April 4 it allowed the Bangla Academy  to go ahead with the fair. This year, 834 units were allocated to 540 publishing houses and organizations to facilitate sale of books and other publications. Also read: Boi Mela to be open for 3.5 hours a day due to COVID-19v The authorities allotted 154 units on the Bangla Academy premises to 107 organizations and 680 units in the Suhrawardy Udyan to 433 organizations. Considering the Covid-19 social-distancing requirements, the land earmarked for this year's fair was expanded to 1,500,000 square feet.