Ekushey Book Fair in full flare

February 15 evening seemed even busier. For, the much longed-for Humayun Ahmed novel on the Liberation War Jochhna O Jananeer Golpa (Tale of the Moonlight and the Mother) arrived at the fair on that day. And people crowded at the huge mansion-like stall of Annya Prokash in order to buy or, at least, have a glance of the book. Mazharul Islam of the house informed that the sales of the novel was excellent on the first day--'about a thousand copies have sold despite the fact that the book is a huge one and the price is also higher than that of a usual Humayun Ahmed book.'

The ninth day of the fair marked the arrival of a few more new titles from different publishing houses.

Regarding the participation of visitors at the fair, everyone seemed very positive. 'People are coming in large numbers and everyday the number is getting better', said Farid Ahmed, the publisher of Somoy Prokashan. 'People are always very curious about the new books.' Farid, however, expressed his dissatisfaction regarding the participation of many sales-orientated houses at the fair. 'Ekushey Book Fair is mainly meant for the publishers, authors and the readers. It is a congregation of the publishing houses with all their new titles. But the participation of selling concerns has somewhat impinged on this aspect of the fair', Farid said.

Asked why do the publishing houses then sell books to these small selling companies, Farid said, 'Since they have the registration from the Bangla Academy, we the publishers do not have alternatives to supply books to them. But, the main spirit of the fair is certainly not selling of books: the whole year is there for that purpose!'

The Ekushey Book Fair is always a rendezvous for the writers and the readers. Eminent authors like poet Nirmalendu Goon, Syed Shamsul Haque, Imdadul Haque Milon, Nasrin Jahan, Anisul Haque, Pranab Bhatta and many others came to the fair on February 15. There is, in fact, a place named 'Lekhak Kunja' at the Nazrul Mancha under the Banyan tree at the fair premises. No writers, however, were seen there--they all gathered at the stalls of their publishing houses. Lekhak Kunja was rather crowded with lots of visitors.

Another curious aspect seemed worth noticing on the February 15 evening. Announcements for the participating concerns regarding the rule of not to bring any foreign books at the fair were made on loud speakers. And that obviously means that some of the stalls were selling pirated and foreign books while it is absolutely prohibited at the Ekushey Book Fair.

What seemed another big irony of this year's fair is that the Bangladesh Shishu Academy does not have any new publications this year, although the stall bears a long banner thanking the Prime Minister for 'declaring the year 2004 as the Children's Book Year.'