The New Nation - Internet Edition

The month long 'Amar Ekushey Boi Mela (Book Fair) 2008' concluded in Dhaka the other day. The book fair has been successful in all respects: the number of visitors, publication of books and volume of sales. The number of books published during the month-long fair totaled 2,578 with 76 on the concluding day against 1,929 published last year. Sales amounted to Tk 20 crore whereas it was only two crore in the previous year.

The fair could have been a greater success if all the aspiring and deserving publishers could have been allotted stalls. Some publishers who claimed to have published and displayed quality books for years alleged that this time they got no stalls. With the passage of time the demand for books and the number of publishers have increased. So the organisers should make arrangements to accommodate a greater number of publishers. The short visiting hours of the fair did not give the buyers sufficient time and space to select books at ease. Some book lovers have opined that the Bangla Academy should organise the fair by earmarking move space for the same. Rush for the purchase of books during the Ekushey Fair has been turning into a tradition. It deserves to be nurtured.

Most of the books published during the month were of quality. But alongside them, many other books were allegedly pirated. Display and sale of such books tarnished the image of the fair. The organisers must be vigilant against such practices. Quality publications help upgrade the nation intellectually. The concerned authorities should ensure the publication of books rich in form and content. Publication of books containing pirated materials, wrong and biased information, faulty interpretation, distorted and sub-standard ideas that contradict hopes, aspirations and ideals of the nation should be discouraged.