Ekushey Book Fair abuzz with visitors

The Amar Ekushey Book Fair witnessed a huge crowd on Wednesday, which was also observed as the Language Martyrs' Day and the International Mother Language Day. People were seen thronging the fair from the morning after it opened at 8am. The book fair usually runs from 3pm to 8:30pm every day except for holidays, but it opened in the morning Wednesday to mark the Amar Ekushey. With the rolling of time, the crowd turned bigger. Although the crowd decreased a little at noon, the rush grew thicker again in the afternoon. After paying homage to the Language Movement martyrs at the Central Shaheed Minar, people flocked to the book fair with friends and family members. Visitors were seen standing in long queues at the entry gates of the fair being held on the Bangla Academy premises and at nearby Suhrawardy Udyan. People of all ages, especially students and parents with their children, were found browsing through books at different stalls. [caption id="attachment_248316" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Students and children browse through books at a stall at the Ekushey Book Fair on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 | Mahmud Hossain Opy/Dhaka Tribune[/caption] Mahfuza, from Dhanmondi, who brought her 10-year-old son along with her, said Amar Ekushey has a special significance for the country and its people and the new generation needs to be introduced with the history. "We went to the Shaheed Minar in the morning and paid tributes to the martyrs by placing wreaths there. Now, I have brought my son to the fair to see the books and learn more about the Language Movement and know the history," she said, adding that this is how children learn about their roots. On the other hand, many people, who live far from the book fair venue and who cannot visit the fair in working days, took the chance to pay tributes to the martyrs and visit the fair on the national holiday. Omar Faruk, who came from Jatrabari with his daughter, said it is important to convey the history to children. "Quality books should be produced more for children so that they can get to know about the history," he said alleging that prices of books are high at the fair.