DHAKA, Jan 31, 2023 (BSS) - The Bangla Academy authorities at this year's Amar Ekushey Book Fair, scheduled to begin tomorrow, have brought some changes in setting up book stalls and other facilities, including food courts, considering the concerns of the publishers as well as the visitors.

"Some changes have been brought in arranging stalls and pavilions and entry as well as exit points. Disciplinary and monitoring activities will be strengthened and digital boards will replace previous analogue information boards," Member Secretary of Amar Ekushey Book Fair Committee Dr KM Mujahidul Islam told BSS.
 
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to open the month-long "Amar Ekushey Boi Mela 2023", the country's largest book fair, at 3pm tomorrow, he added. 
 
Besides, the Premier will also hand over the prizes among the recipients of the Bangla Academy Literary Award-2022 along with unwrapping seven books, published by the Bangla Academy, Nurul Huda added.
 
Hectic last-minute preparations for the traditional book fair are going on in full swing on the Bangla Academy premises to welcome book lovers from tomorrow afternoon.
 
"The fairground is almost ready to welcome the book lovers. However, with only a few hours in hand, people have been working relentlessly to complete the rest of the preparation in due time . . . we're hopeful about wrapping up all the preparation to welcome book lovers as per schedule," said Dr KM Mujahidul Islam, Member Secretary of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair Committee. 
 
"We've brought such changes this year for two reasons - Metrorail station near Bangla Academy and request of publishers to move seven pavilions with 182 stalls from the area of Institution of Engineers to the main arena of the fair," said Dr Mujahid, also Bangla Academy director (administration, Human Resources and planning division).
 
A major change will be visible in setting up the stalls in the book fair as the previous cluster method is being changed and all the 470 stalls inside Suhrawardi Udyan have been set up in a way so that a visitor can see the whole fairground standing at any corner of the fair.
 
Seven pavilions with 182 stalls have been shifted from the Institution of Engineers area to the main venue of the fairground upon the requests of publishers concerning their business issues, he said. 
  
And thus, the main entry point to the fair's Suhrawardi Udyan area has been changed and the temple gate of the Suhrawardi Udyan just opposite the Bangla Academy will be the main gate of entry.
 
The stalls of service-providing institutions like police, ansar and fire service have been set up in the spot near the Institution of Engineers while two confined zones out of the main venue have also been dedicated for food courts and there will be no unorganized, open or street type food shops, he added.
 
'Shishu Chattar' has also been shifted from its previous place to Sadhu Shanga area this year.
 
Like previous years, the main stage of the fair will be on the Bangla Academy premises while book unwrapping and 'Lekhak Bolchi' stages will be set up on Suhrawardi Udyan premises, said Mujahidul. 
 
Another addition to this year's book fair is the 'Digital Board' which will be visible in the key points of the fairground containing different types of information, including newly published books to let the visitors get informed easily.
 
The taskforce will be on 'hard-line' in the book fair from the very first day to ensure that rules, regulations and instructions are being followed properly and thus, the publishers are asked to submit information each day to the Bangla Academy about each new book coming in the fairground.
 
Law and order will strictly be maintained, he said, adding that each individual or organization will be brought under punishment or penalty if they violate or do not follow the instructions given by the fair authority. "Taskforce will also have the authority to seize any newly published book if a copy of the same is not submitted to the fair authority," he added.
 
"We are trying hard to maintain the aesthetic beauty and security of this traditional fair," he said, adding, "There is no security threat over the month-long book fair, according to the inter-ministerial meeting."
 
A total of 901 stalls have been allocated to 601 organizations. The authorities have allotted 165 stalls to 112 organizations for the Bangla Academy ground and 736 stalls to 489 organizations for the Suhrawardy Udyan. 
 
Moreover, a total of 38 pavilions have been allocated this year. Last year, a total of 774 stalls were allocated in favour of 534 organizations. Apart from this, there will be 153 stalls at Little Magazine Chattar, which were 127 in 2022, 140 in 2021 and 155 in 2020. 
 
The book fair will remain open for all from 3 pm to 9 pm on working days and 11:00 am to 9 pm on public holidays with a one-hour break for lunch and prayers, said Dr KM Muzahidul Islam.