The month-long 'Amar Ekushey Granthomela' (book fair) 2018 draws an end on Wednesday (Feb 28) with release of a record number of books. Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor will be present as the chief guest while president of Bangla Academy Emeritus Professor Anisuzzaman will preside over the concluding ceremony. Director of the Academy and member secretary of the Amar Ekushey Granthomela 2018 Jalal Ahmed will present the report of the fair while Director General of the Academy Shamsuzzaman Khan will deliver the welcome speech.
According to sources, a total of 4134 books hit the fair till 26th day already well surpassing last year’s fair release of 3646 books. Display and sale of books apart, the book fair had daily discussion events on various themes and personalities at 4 p.m. at the main stage of the Academy premises. The last discussion on ‘Adibashi of Bangladesh’ will be held on Wednesday.
A discussion was held on the ‘Amar Ekushey Granthomela and problems in standard publication in Bangladesh’ on Tuesday (Feb 27) with Khan Mahbub presenting the keynote speech.
Bangla Academy’s ‘Gunijon Sahitya Puroskar’, chosen from among the participating publishing houses will be handed over to the winners. ‘Prothoma’, the publication arm of leading vernacular daily Prothom Alo, will receive the ‘Chittaranjan Saha Sriti Puroskar’, while ‘Munier Chowdhury Sriti Puraskar 2018’ (memorial awards) will be given for the publication of aesthetically rich and standard content in 2017 books.
Somoy Publication will receive the award for Moin Ahmed’s Mini Bishya Kosh, Bengal publication for Alokananda’s Prithibir Pathe Hete, Journey Books publication for Sufi Mostafizur Rahman’s “Bangladesher Protnotattik Uttoradhikar’.
The ‘Rokonuzzaman Khan Dadabhai Sriti Puraskar’ will be awarded to the ‘Chandrabati Academy’ for publishing excellent books for children while Qayyum Chowdhury Sriti Puraskar will be given to ‘Kotha Prakash’ for the best interior design.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina distributed the Bangla Academy Shahitya Puraskar while Bangla Academy presented two books titled ‘Alokchitre Bangla Academir Ithihash’ and Banghabandhur Sath-e Marcher Bhashon: Bohumtrik Bishleshon’ to the PM at the opening ceremony.
Twelve personalities have been awarded the Bangla Academy award for 2017.
The recipients are - Mohammad Sadik and Maruful Islam (poetry), Mamun Hossain (fiction), Prof Mahbubul Haque (essay), Prof Rafiqullah Khan (research), Aminur Rahman Bhuiyan (translation), Kamrul Hasan Bhuiyan and Surma Jahid (literature on Liberation War), Shakur Majid (biography and travelogue), Maloy Bhoumik (drama), Moshtak Ahmed (science, technology and environment) and Jhrana Dash Purokhayshto (juvenile literature).
