The ongoing Amar Ekushey Book Fair will remain open from 12 to 5 pm every day amid the countrywide seven-day lockdown enforced by the government to fight the 2nd wave of Covid-19. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs issued a notice in this regard on Sunday. It also instructed the authorities concerned to maintain the health guidelines strictly. Also read: Boi Mela to be open for 3.5 hours a day due to COVID-19 Earlier the authorities reduced daily the operational hours of the book fair due to recent surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths. On March 18, the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2021. Also read: Nat’l committee for stopping Ekushey Book Fair as Covid cases surge This year’s fair was dedicated to the memories of the martyrs of 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh. The main theme of the 2021 fair is “Birth Centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Golden Jubilee of Independence”. Amid an alarming surge in Covid-19 cases, Bangladesh recorded 7,087 fresh cases and 53 deaths in the last 24 hours until Sunday morning. Also read: Restriction on gatherings, quarantine rule among PMO’s 18-point directive to contain Covid surge