Bookworms throng book fair on Valentine’s Day

Couples in colourful dresses and holding hands were a common sight on the fairground on the fourteenth day of the book fair on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, couples around the world spent time with each other and exchanged gifts on Valentine’s Day. Bangladesh also celebrated the day in her own way.

A good numbers of couples spent the day visiting books at the Ekushey Book Fair. Many among the visitors bought poetry books and novels especially those having message of love to give as Valentine’s Day gift to their beloved ones.

The colours of the previous day, which was the first day of the Bengali month of Falgun, had been carried over into Valentine’s Day.

Many visitors wore red and green or yellow, with flower garlands wrapped around their head or wrists. Separate entrances for men and women made lovers leave one another for a while.

Many couples were seen to flip books which was mainly love stories. They took selfie at well-decorated stalls like Panjeri, Tamralipi, Batighor, UPL and other publications.

Jamil Ahmed, a private employee, came to the fair from old Dhaka with his girlfriend, said they preferred visiting the fair to passing time at cinema or food restaurant on the occasion.

Though Jamil’s pocket was almost empty but his girlfriend was a bit tenacious to buy books of Humayun Ahmed. Then he bought two books, namely ‘Tumi Amay Dekechhile Chhutir Nimontrone’ and ‘Badol Diner Ditiyo Ghashful’, both was written by Humayun Ahmed, for his beloved girlfriend”.

Stall attendants were busy dealing the visitors. Many, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the sale turnover, on the backdrop of  the huge crowd.

Monirul Hoque, publisher of Ananya said sales of books was good but comparatively lower than the crowd.

Soma Kamal, a staff of Somoy Publication said  “Valobasi’ a novel written by Ferdous Hasan, was selling excellent on the occasion of Valentine’s Day” she added

Eminent Jurist Dr Kamal Hossain came to the fair venue to unveil a book title ‘Ganotantro, Dhormo niropekkhota and Manobotabad' written by Jane Alam.

After launching the book he said, “Participation at Amor Ekushey Book fair by all, especially, young boys and girls is an achievement of our Independence”.

Among new books 73 poetry books, 27 novels, 22 short story, 6 essay, 8 research, 8 travel, 4 history, 8 biography and 6 children's book hit the book fair.

Bangla Academy organised a discussion on 'Inactive children’s organizations and cultural development of children’ held at the main stage on the academy premises with Artists Hasem Khan.

GY