Fair offers books for travellers

While visiting new areas, people often find themselves at a loss due to their lack of knowledge about things like where to stay and how to go to the local tourist spots.

This is also true for Bangladeshis visiting a district for the first time. For avid travellers, "64 Zela Bhraman" (travelling around 64 districts) is there in the Ekushey book fair to help.

The book briefly and nicely describes major attractions of each district, worth a stranger's attention.

There are few people in the country who have visited all 64 districts. The writer, Liakat Hossain Khokon, is one of them.

According to the writer, Jhenidah is dotted with historical establishments. Harinakunda, Shailkupa, Kaliganj, Kotchandpur and Maheshpur upazilas are full of attractive places and it takes less than an hour to visit those from Jhenidah town, he said.

At Mallikpur, there is an over 100-year old banyan tree, spreading its branches over 15 bighas of land. The ruins of ancient city Barobazar, where 11 Sufis preached Islam, is only 30km from the town. The birthplace of mystic songwriter Lalon will be found in Harishpur.

Jhenidah is 228km from Dhaka, and it is only a six-hour bus trip.

The book also narrates important travel information of other places as well.

Liakat wrote another book on river journey titled "Bangladesh Nod-Nodi Bhraman". There are over 700 rivers in the country.   

Besides giving important tips, the writer also expressed concern over the destruction of rivers.

Once the Dhanshiri was 11 mile long, and vessels sailed in the river. But water hyacinths have filled its surface at places obstructing boats, while the length has reduced to only four miles.

Dhanshiri has been immortalised by Jibanananda Das in his famous poem "Dhanshiri", in which he wished his return to the bank of the river.

Two other books written by Liakat are on global and India tours where he vividly described various attractive tourist destinations.

The books are available at stall no. 293 of Anindya Prokash.

Liakat told The Daily Star that he had visited all 64 districts, and about 30 countries. "There are many attractive places around the world and the country. But we know little about them; that's why we are not interested in travelling," he said. 

Ninety-four new books are on sale at the stall. Today the fair starts at 11:00am and closes at 8:00pm.