Shawdesh Desk:

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated the much-awaited Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2021 on Bangla Academy premises and at Suhrawardy Udyan virtually.

The premier inaugurated the event on Thursday afternoon through video conferencing from her official residence Ganabhaban in the capital.

At the inaugural function, the Prime Minister unveiled the book “New China-1952,” the English version of “Amar Dekha Naya Chin” written by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Besides, the premier also handed over the prizes among the recipients of the Bangla Academy Literary Award-2020.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid was present as special guest while Bangla Academy President Prof Shamsuzzaman Khan presided over the event.

This year, Bangla Academy has set the theme of the fair as “Birth Centenary of Bangabandhu and Golden Jubilee of Independence” and the book fair will be dedicated to the memories of the valiant martyrs of the great Liberation War.

The main attraction of the inauguration ceremony was the official publication of the English version of Bangabandhu’s book.

Like the previous years, the venue of the fair has been extended to the nearby Suhrawardy Udyan.

This year the land earmarked for the fair was expanded to 15,00,000 square ft. A total of 834 units have been allocated to 540 organisations. The authorities have allotted 154 units at the Bangla Academy ground to 107 organisations and 680 at the Suhrawardy Udyan to 433 organisations. There are 33 pavilions.