Not the Banglabazar it once used to be
Shopkeepers giving up businesses, publishers incurring losses amid pandemic
it was not too long ago that these book stores in the capital’s Banglabazar buzzed with students from nearby schools. But since the lockdown hit, their once-everbusy sales staff sit at the counters idly passing time. PHOTO: Palash Khan
A few yards south of the capital s Bahadur Shah Park, near Sadarghat terminal, is a bend where you will find the age-old Banglabazar Government Girls High School and missionary-run Heed International School. And surrounding them is a long series of book stores and stationery shops, where students and their guardians would throng to on a usual day to buy books, pens and pencils.
Due to the pandemic, Amar Ekushey Book Fair, one of the most sought-after events got halt this year. This book fair, which is largest of its kind in this region, was paused after much deliberation by the decision of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. Though there were initial talks about officially hosting the book fair online, that plan was scrapped after the decision was made
Virtual book fair plan scrapped
Boi Mela to get delayed start in February
Star file photo Staff Correspondent Staff Correspondent
Amar Ekushey Boi Mela-2021 will be held as usual, not virtually as previously reported, but will start later than the scheduled February 1.
Farid Ahmed, president of the Academic and Creative Publishers Association of Bangladesh (ACPAB), told The Daily Star yesterday.
The decision was made in a meeting between Bangla Academy, the ACPAB, and the Bangladesh Publishers and Booksellers Association.
Bangla Academy will announce the book fair date and duration based on a proposal to be submitted by the publishers association, which will first await ministry approval.