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PM Inaugurates Ekushey Book Fair

Publish books digitally to promote Bengali literature globally: Hasina

She hands over Bangla Academy Awards to recipients

Published : Friday, 2 February, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 182
Staff Correspondent
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday emphasized on the necessity of digital publication of the books alongside the printed version and translation of the books into different languages to reach the Bangla language, literature and culture to the global stage.

"This is the era of science and technology and we have to move ahead keeping pace with the present time. The new generation now prefers to read books on tab or laptop instead of printed versions. So, I request all the publishers to publish digital books alongside printer ones. We can reach quickly our Bangla language, literature and culture not only within the country, but also to the global stage," she said while opening the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, 2024 for the record 21st time at the Bangla Academy.

The Bangla Academy organised the countrys largest and month-long annual book fair on its premises and adjoining Suhrawardy Udyan.

Bangla Academy President novelist Selina Hossain and Cultural Affairs Secretary Khalil Ahmed, spoke at the function. Director of Bangla Academy poet Mohammad Nurul Huda and Bangladesh Book Publishers and Sellers Association President Arif Hossain Choton, gave the welcome addresses.

At the function, Sheikh Hasina, also the Cultural Affairs Minister, unveiled covers of two books "Collected Works of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: Volume-2" and "Praner Melay Sheikh Hasina (Sheikh Hasina in the beloved fair)" on her addresses delivered 20 times at the book fair, published by Bangla Academy.

Later, she conferred the Bangla Academy Literary Award-2023 on 16 individuals for notable contributions to various fields of Bangla literature. The Bangla Academy Literary Award-2023 was given in 11 categories--poetry, fiction, essay and research, translation, drama, childrens literature category, Liberation War, Bangabandhu, environment and science field, biography and folklore.

The Prime Minister handed over the awards to the winners of the award.

The award recipients are Shamim Azad (poetry), Novelists Nuruddin Jahangir and Salma Bani (jointly in fiction), Zulfikar Matin (essay/research), Saleha Chowdhury (translation), Playwrights Mrittika Chakma and Masud Pathik (jointly in drama), Tapankar Chakrabarty (childrens literature), Afroza Parvin and Asaduzzaman Asad (research on the Liberation War), Saifullah Mahmud Dulal and Md Majibur Rahman (jointly in research on Bangabandhu), ornithologist Inam Al Haque (environment/science field), Ishak Khan (biography) and Tapan Bagchi and Suman Kumar Das (jointly in folklore).

Later, the Prime Minister visited different book stalls at the book fair.

At the outset of the event, one minute silence was observed to show respect to the martyrs of the Language Movement.

Along with cultural programmes and month-long seminars, there will be arrangements for children and teenagers which include drawing, music and recitation competitions.

The Prime Minister, however, stated that despite the fact, the printed versions will not be obliterated as many, mostly aged people, still like to read the printed versions of the books.

She also suggested making audio version of the books so that one can learn by hearing.

She said, "If we want to spread our language, literature and culture massively, we should keep pace with time. So, I would like to request the publishers to publish not only printed books but also digital books."

Pointing at the publishers, Hasina said, "If they become digital publishers, their books can be reached to all the people in the foreign lands. People speaking the other languages would be able read the books."

In this context, she directed the Bangla Academy to open a web portal with the digital versions of its published books for online readers.

Alongside the print books, it is essential to make audio version books available in the libraries, she added.

The Prime Minister also thanked the Bangla Academy for its contribution to translation literature saying that once many demanded not to translate foreign literatures.

"But I am in favour of translation. How can we know other nations, countries and cultures if the literatures of other languages are not translated? Same time, the people of different languages will get scope to read Bengali literature as much as Bengali literature can be translated into other languages," she added.

She said, "If we can translate our books into other languages, we will be able to raise our mother language Bangla, literature and culture throughout the world in a faster way. So, we need to make sure of it."

Referring to her governments vision-2041, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh would be smart in future by making its population, government, economy and society smart. "If we want to build a smart society, well have to enrich everything like language, literature and culture."

Noting that now the book fairs are held in district-level, the Prime Minister said the government would take this book fair to upazila-level in phases.

Mentioning that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his speech in Bengali in the United Nations General Assembly in 1974, Hasina said Bangabandhu had taken Bengali to the international stage.

As Rabindranath Tagore had brought international recognition for the Bengali language Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took Bengali language to the international stage through his speeches, works and political, social and economic struggles, she added.

The Bangla Academy is organizing the worlds largest annual book fair on its premises and Suhrawardy Udyan with the theme "Paro Boi, Garo Desh: Bangabandhur Bangladesh (Read Book, build country: Bangabandhus Bangladesh) this year.

It will remain open to all from 3:00pm to 9:00pm on work days and from 11:00am to 9:00pm on public holidays with one-hour break for lunch and prayers.

A total of 937 stalls have been allocated to 635 organizations in the book fair. The authorities have allotted 173 stalls to 120 organizations on the Bangla Academy ground and 764 stalls to 515 organizations at the Suhrawardy Udyan.

A total of 37 pavilions have also been allocated this year.

Last year, a total of 901 stalls were allocated to 601 organisations.

Like the previous years, the main stage of the fair will be on the Bangla Academy premises while book unwrapping and Lekhak Bolchi stages will be set up on Suhrawardy Udyan premises.

Shishu Chattar has also been set up in Sadhu Shanga area beside the Ramna Kali Temple.

All-out security measures have been taken to ensure foolproof security of the fair with deployment of a large numbers of law enforcement personnel including police and RAB.

A watch tower and fire tender were set up to monitor the situation around the fair venue. The fairground and its surrounding areas have been brought under the coverage of CCTV cameras and drone surveillance.



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