TDS Desk:

The Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025 will commence on Saturday under the theme “July Uprising: Building a New Bangladesh,” with Dr Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser of the Interim Government, inaugurating this year’s fair.

On Thursday, a press conference was held at the Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad Hall of the Bangla Academy, where details of the event were shared.

Present at the conference were Prof Mohammad Azam, director general of the Bangla Academy, and Dr Sorkar Amin, secretary of the fair committee.

Amin said: “The Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025 will begin on February 1, and we extend our deepest respect to the martyrs, freedom fighters, democracy activists, and all those involved in the July uprising.”

He also confirmed that Yunus would inaugurate the fair at 3pm that day. “Books and the book fair play a pivotal role in the creation of a knowledge-based, humane, and inclusive democratic Bangladesh. We hope that this year’s fair will be illuminated by the possibilities it offers,” Amin added.

The layout of the fair will remain similar to last year’s, though some changes have been made. The outer path of the fair has been moved closer to the temple gate due to the location of the metro rail station.

Additionally, there will be four entry and exit points in areas like TSC, Doel Chattar, MRT Basing Plant, and the Engineering Institute.

The food stalls have been better organized and relocated near the Engineering Institute. Facilities like prayer spaces and restrooms will be available.

A children’s area will be situated on the right side of the temple gate, allowing young visitors to explore freely and easily access their favourite books. Participating institutions, including the Bangla Academy, will sell books with a 25% discount.

Daily seminars will take place at 4pm, followed by cultural programs in the evening. Three pavilions will be hosted by Bangla Academy, along with a stall dedicated to children’s and young-adult publications.

The fair will also feature drawing, recitation, and music competitions for children as part of the celebrations. Book launch events will be held in Suhrawardy Udyan.

The fair’s entry and exit points will be equipped with archways, and over 300 CCTV cameras will be installed across the fairgrounds for security purposes.

In terms of awards, Amin mentioned several prestigious recognitions, including the Chittaranjan Saha Memorial Award for the best book based on quality from the 2024 publications and the Munir Chowdhury Memorial Award for artistic excellence in book publication.

Other awards will recognize quality children’s books and the best stall designs. The Bangla Academy will publish 43 new books and reprint 41 books this year.

The fair will be open from 3pm to 9pm daily from February 1 to February 28, with extended hours on holidays (11am to 9pm), except for February 8 and 15. On February 21, the fair will start at 8am and close at 9pm

In total, 708 publishing institutions will participate, with 199 in the Bangla Academy area and 609 in Suhrawardy Udyan. The fair will also feature 37 pavilions, 130 little magazines, and a dedicated children’s area with 74 institutions.

This year’s book fair will be plastic-free, focusing on environmental protection by using reusable and eco-friendly materials instead of single-use plastics. Measures will also be taken for cleanliness and mosquito control.