People can expect a better managed and more expanded fair venue this time as they step in the annual Amar Ekushey Boi Mela billed for February 1.
In run up to the month-long book fair, the organisers have already started preparatory works rather bit early this year with an aim to allot more stalls and provide the visitors a better ambience on the fair ground.
Member secretary of book fair organising committee of Bangla Academy Jalal Ahmed told, "The venue of the fair including the number of its stalls, units of publishing houses and pavilions will be extended and we started our preparation very early. Alongside, the stall rentals of the fair will be increased too."
He gave an idea that the pavilion rental will be increased by up to 20 percent compared to last year's rates. He, however, could not readily say how many more stalls and pavilions would be allotted this time.
Nearly 6,000 publishers applied for participation in the book fair that has already extended from Bangla Academy compound to a part of Suhrawardy Uddyan last year, reports UNB.
In 2017, as many as 351 institutions were allotted 565 unit stalls this year, of which 128 stalls were set up on the Bangla Academy premise while 437 others in Shuhrawardy Uddyan. For the first time, a total of 11 institutions were allotted pavilions last year.
Jalal said that all the arrangements will be made to make sure book lovers feel good visiting the book fair. Apart from a nice decoration for the readers, sitting space will be extended while setting up of adequate number of quality toilets will be ensured. The podium for unveiling new books will be made more spectacular and bigger.
"We will allot more space for the bookstalls which sells the new books this year," he added.
"There will be a separate gate for writers and publishers to enter the fair venue, and elderly people and journalists too will be able to use that entrance," he said.
Bangla Academy made it mandatory now that for participating in the fair, publishers will have to submit the authors' copies of the agreement, the author's royalty certificate including the information form. The Academy will release the list of stall allocation on January 8. After this, the place for the bookstall will be distributed through the open digital lottery.
Talking about the safety measures, Jalal said all the publishing houses will be brought under insurance, there will be strict security arrangements in the fair this year. From the fair premises, the TSC and Shamsunnahar Hall to Shahbagh intersection and Doyel Chattar will be under the close circuit cameras.
Eight archways will be placed inside the Bangla Academy and in the Suhrawardy Udyan for checking the visitors.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the book fair while the Bangla Academy literature award will also be distributed at the opening ceremony.
A three-day 'International Literature Conference', a new addition since last year, will also be held from February 20 to February 23 this year.
There will be a seminar at the main stage of the fair at 4 pm every day. The fair will remain open from 3 pm to 8pm daily till February 28.
