Publishers, book sellers for making fair visitor-friendly

Entertainment Desk News :: Visitors were gradually increasing as the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair stepped into the second week on Thursday, the eighth day of the country’s biggest book fair.

The fair witnessed huge crowds at the first weekend amidst allegations of organisers’ mismanagement raised by publishers, book sellers and visitors.

Publishers and book sellers urged the organising authorities of the book fair, Bangla Academy, to take effective steps to make the fair a visitor-friendly place as they were expecting huge crowds and increase in sales at the weekend.

Publishing house Akash publisher Alamgir Sikder Loton said that the publishers were eying the weekend for large crowds and healthy sales.

Ittadi Grantho Prokash publisher Johirul Abedin Jewel said, ‘The fair usually becomes crowded in the evening but there is not adequate light.’

Kathaprokash stall in-charge Jafirul Islam expressed his disappointment over poor toilet facilities in the fair venue and urged the authorities concerned to make the fair a visitor-friendly place.

‘The conditions of temporary toilet facilities are poor and not adequate. Moreover, the organisers still not make the toilets in Amphitheatre available for people,’ said Jafirul.

Anupam Prakashani editor and publisher Milan Kanti Nath expressed his anger over the fair organisers’ failure to control dust, clean the fair venues, arrange sufficient dustbins and others.

‘The organisers of the fair have their excuses for all the issues but the publishers, book sellers and visitors are in trouble for the organisers’ failure,’ said Milan.

Samhati Prokashan stall attendant Al Amin Rahman said that visitors were struggling to find stalls as there were no stall number directions in the large fairground.

Ekushey Book Fair organising committee member secretary KM Muzahidul Islam claimed that although the fair was not completely ready during the first weekend, but was ready to welcome big crowds now.

‘We are spraying water every night to control dust. Besides, we are working to make all the toilets available for visitors,’ said Muzahidul, claiming that cleaners were working to clean the fairground and he ordered 30 dustbins for the fairground.

According to Bangla Academy, 80 new titles were published on Thursday taking the total number of books published in the fair to 498 so far.

A discussion session titled ‘Tribute: Ahmed Sharif’ was held on the main stage on Bangla Academy premises.

The fair will open at 11:00am on Friday.