The Amar Ekushey Granthamela, which had been a rendezvous for writers and book lovers over the last one month, closes today with the awarding of best publishers in a host of categories.
On the last day (today), Bangla Academy extended the duration of the fair by one hour. The fair will start at 1:00pm and continue till 8:00pm.
“It seems the fair began only yesterday,” said Sazzadur Rahman, a Dhaka University
student and regular visitor.
In the last 28 days, 3,304 books were published. Last year, the number was 3,700, according to the Information Centre of Bangla Academy. Ninety-two new books hit the fair yesterday.
Statistics shows, of the 3,304 books, the highest 909 books were on poetry, 518 were novels and 486 were on short stories.
Four poetry books of Shahida Sultana, an official of Bangladesh High Commission in Malaysia, have been published this year. The books are “Berajal”, “Mrittu Ke Biroho Bhebe Bhul Hoy”, “Kolaboti Phool”, and “Bosonter Dhrupodi Ahoban”.
Her poems tell of struggle, challenges, dreams and frustration.Young poet and writer Malek Mustakim has written two books — “Deyalmukhi” and “Bishonnotabirodhi Chumbonguli”.
The novel Deyalmukhi is based on a lonesome youth’s struggle, while “Bishonnotabirodhi Chumbonguli” tells a story of love, separation and depression.
The closing ceremony will be held at 6:00pm.
French researcher and translator France Bhattacharya and Bengali expatriate writer Manzu Islam will be given the Syed Waliullah 2015 award for their contributions to Bangla literature and language.
Besides, Chittaranjan Saha Smriti Prize 2016 will be given to the publishers with the highest number of qualitative books published in 2015, Munier Chowhdury Smiriti Prize 2016 for best qualitative and creative books of 2015, and Rokonuzzaman Khan Dadabhai Smriti Prize 2016 for best children’s books and Artist Qayyum Chowdhury Smriti Prize 2016 to best attractive stall in the fair.
