Ekushey book fair to begin on March 18

Not virtually, Amar Ekushey Boi Mela-2021 will be held as usual from March 18 after a long delay due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Habibullah Sirajee, director general of Bangla Academy, confirmed the date yesterday.

He said, "The book fair will start on March 18. I can't say more at this moment."

"We will give details on the duration of the book fair. Many people were in confusion, so I am just confirming the date.

"Our designers will make design of locations of the stalls, considering the coronavirus situation," he added.

Usually, the book fair begins on February 1 each year.

The decision of holding the book fair at the usual venue was made earlier, but the date was not confirmed.

A Bangla Academy official yesterday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina agreed on the inauguration date.

Meanwhile, Bangla Academy Literary Award 2020 was announced yesterday at a press conference in the Bangla Academy.

DG Habibullah announced the names of 10 award winners.

The awardees are: Dhaka University Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Muhammad Samad in poetry, Imtiar Shamim in fiction, Begum Akhtar Kamal in essay/research, Suresh Ranjan Basak in translation, Rabiul Alam in drama, Anjir Liton in children's literature, Sahida Begum in Liberation War research, Ferdousi Majumdar in memoirs/travelogues, Aparesh Bandhopaddhaya in science fiction and Muhammad Habibullah Pathan in folklore, 

Each awardee will get Tk 3 lakh and a crest, said the DG.