The 8-day long Dhaka Divisional Book Fair has started. The fair will be held from 7 to 14 October every day from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Bangla Academy premises. The theme of this year's fair is 'Bangabandhu, Liberation War and Dream of Sonar Bangla'.
The fair was inaugurated on Saturday (October 7) afternoon at the Bangla Academy premises in the capital. This fair, organized by the National Book Center under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Bangladesh Book Publishers and Sellers Association and under the management of the Dhaka Divisional Administration, will last for eight days.
Minister of State for Culture KM Khalid was present as the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the fair. He said that currently divisional book fairs are being held periodically in 8 divisions. After that, the small ethnic fair and cultural festival will be held.
The Minister of State for Culture said that those involved in the book selling and publishing industry are not involved in the hope of much profit. Rather, the industry has been sustained by love, thirst for knowledge and food from the heart because, nowadays people don't want to buy too many books. Moreover, the prices of accessories related to the publishing industry, including printing paper, have increased.
He also said that the present government is working to make the young generation book-oriented. Through this, the main goal of the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is to create a creative, and enlightened nation will be achieved.
Sixty five reputed publishing houses of Bangladesh including 25 institutions of different government offices will participate in this eight-day long fair. Apart from this, quiz competition, painting competition, essay competition and discussion meeting and seminar will be organized with the students from different educational institutions. Every day from 4:30 pm cultural programs will be performed in the fairgrounds with the participation of various cultural organizations.