Shawdesh desk:

The ninth Bangladesh Book Fair-2019 was held in Kolkata amidst the lively presence of a large number of people from all walks oflife, especially youths.

Madhumita Khastagir, a female student of Kolkata University, said she comes to the fair every year and buys some books.

“It is very interesting to go around the stalls and buy books,” she added.

Another Kolkata citizen Samir Bhadra who came to the fair today said he used to come to the fair to buy Bangladeshi writhers’ books as he loves them.

“I love books of Bangladeshi writers. The quality of publication is good,” he added.

Rupak Lal Samajpati came to the book fair today to buy the ‘Karagarer Rojnamcha (Prison Diary)’ written by Father of the Bangladeshi Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

A computer engineer Sudipta Mukhopadhyay said the Bangladeshi book fair at Mohar Kunja in Kolkata is gaining popularity.

A publisher Mahmub Rehman said some books on technology written in Bangladesh attracted readers.

However, the literature and poetry collections of Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore and Bangladeshi national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam are on the top sale lists, he added.

Rehman said a total of 88 government and private publications took part in the book fair this year which began on November 1 at Mohar Kunja.

Counsellor of Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata Md Bashir Uddin said such kind of book fair will strengthen bilateral relations further.

Later, a seminar titled ‘Bangla Natoker Goti Prakrity’ was held on the fair premises. Noted Bangladeshi actor Ramendu Majumdar addressed the seminar as chief guest.

Organisers of the book fair said that Bangladesh state minister for Cultural Affairs K M Khalid will visit the fair on November 8.