Curtain of the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair will be raised on Friday (Feb 1) as Bangla Academy is set to stage its annual extravaganza on its premises and at Suhrawardy Udyan.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the traditional month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair on the Bangla Academy premises at 3pm.

“This year’s theme ‘Bijoy 1952-71: New Phase’ will inspire the new generation with the spirit of Liberation War,” Dr Jalal Ahmed, director of Bangla Academy and member secretary of Ekushey Book Fair Committee, told a media briefing at Bangla Academy on Thursday (Jan 31).

Necessary security arrangements have already been completed with the installation of more than 300 closed circuit television cameras in and around the Bangla Academy complex, he said, adding the law enforcers will be deployed in a large number to ensure foolproof security.

The book fair will remain open for all from 3pm to 9pm on working days and 8:30am to 9pm on government holidays with a one-hour break for lunch and offering prayers. It will continue till Feb 28.

The fair will be free from polythene and smoke, and booklovers can buy their desirable books at 25 percent commission.

A total of 770 stalls of publication houses under 24 pavilions will be set up in the book fair covering an area of 300,000 square feet. Apart from this, there will be 155 stalls at Little Magazine Chattar.

Bangla Academy organises ‘Shishu Chattar’ this year where children along with guardians can enjoy “Shishu Prahar (children time)’ during the fair.

The authorities for the first time have launched the ‘logo’ of the fair, created by Architecture Enamul Kabir Nirjhor, with the theme of the 1952 Language Movement.

A mancha (stage) for holding publication ceremonies and programmes on unveiling covers of the books has been installed at Suhrawardy Udyan, while discussions and seminars will be held every day on the main mancha erected on the Bangla Academy premises.

A separate gate will be set up for entrance of writers, litterateurs, poets and senior personalities of different sectors, including civil society members and dignitaries.

Two main entry gates have been erected at Teacher-Students’ Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University and Doyel Chattar. Besides, there will be three paths on the Bangla Academy premises, while six entrance and exit routes in Suhrawardy Udyan.

Director General of Bangla Academy Habibullah Siraji will deliver the welcome address at the inaugural ceremony on the history of Bangla Academy and the book fair and different aspects of the festival with Bangla Academy President and National Professor Anisuzzaman in the chair.

Indian poet Shankha Ghosh and Egyptian writer and researcher Mohsen-Al Aresi will be present as special guests while acting Secretary of the Ministry of Culture Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal will address the greeting speech.

Generally, booklovers, authors, publishers and the people of different professions wait for the book fair.

Thousands of visitors of all are expected to be seen at the Amar Ekushey Granthamela this year that will be held on the premises of Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan.