<i>Boi Mela takes Ekushey mood </i>
Bangla Academy Director General Dr Shamsuzzaman Khan, left, Barrister M Amirul Islam, third from left, and Prof Anisuzzaman, right, hold copies of the book, "AR Mallick Smarok Grantha", at its unveiling ceremony at the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela yesterday. Also present were Faruk Mallick and Sadya Afreen Mallick.Photo: STAR
As elsewhere across the country, the Bangla Academy is all set to observe International Mother Language Day, with thousands of people likely to crowd the book fair on the historic day today. Publication houses have equipped their stalls with as many new books as they can while law enforcers have beefed up security in and around the academy for the safe movement of visitors. More than 3,500 policemen and 600 Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members will keep law and order at the Central Shaheed Minar and its surroundings today, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police sources. On this occasion, the fair will remain open from 8:00am to 10:00pm today. As the clock struck 12:01 today, thousands of barefoot people humming "Amar Bhaiyer Rokte Rangano Ekushey February..." paid homage to the supreme sacrifices of the Language Movement martyrs. It was on this very day in 1952 that the language heroes embraced martyrdom to establish Bangla as the state language. For a working day yesterday, a day ahead of the Ekushey February (21st February), the crowd at the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela was comparatively big. The fair also witnessed the presence of a number of distinguished people. Alongside browsing around bookstalls and collecting books, many of them were seen unveiling new books. Bangla Academy Chairman Prof Anisuzzaman, Director General Shamsuzzaman Khan, and Barrister M Amirul Islam unveiled a volume, "AR Mallick Smarok Grantha", edited by National Prof Salahuddin Ahmed, Prof Anisuzzaman, and Dr Atful Hye Sibly. Maksodul Hoque Khan is associate editor. Another book, "24 Jon Bhasha Sangramir Jibonkatha", authored by Rita Bhowmik, was unveiled by language hero Abdul Matin. Ferdousi Priyobhashini unveiled “Ashruheen Asrupat”, a book by journalist Nadeem Qadir. Poet Al Mahmud and noted human rights activist Sultana Kamal also visited the fair. As on other days, a discussion was held. Yesterday, the theme was "40 years of independence of Bangladesh: conditions to build a strong state in the spirit of the Liberation War and Language Movement: curbing militancy and holding trial of war criminals". Journalist Shahriar Kabir presented the keynote paper while former army chief Lt Gen (retd) Harun-ur-Rashid, Dhaka University Teachers' Association president Dr Md Anwar Hossain, journalist Syed Badrul Ahsan and poet Shamim Azad, among others, took part in the discussion. At the beginning of the programme, a minute's silence was observed, to show respect to veteran journalist Faiz Ahmed, who passed away yesterday morning. Meanwhile, a number of publishing houses said they had good sales yesterday. They also spoke of some books appearing on the occasion of Amar Ekushey. Johirul Abedin Jewel, owner of Ittadi Grantho Prokash, said “Ekusheyer Galpo”, a book by Begum Mustari Shafi, will hit the fair today. The publication firm has already brought 46 new books to the fair and two or three books will arrive today, he said. “Actually we take preparations to bring new books before February 21, as the sales rise high at this time”. Robin Ahsan, owner of Srabon Prokashani, said his firm has taken some initiatives to mark Amar Ekushey. “All our salespersons will put on black T-shirts to show respect to the people who sacrificed their lives to establish Bangla as the state language”, he said. A total of 107 new books hit the book fair yesterday.
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