Book fair rains in Phagun

The publishing house concerned had predicted rain on Saturday after seeing the cloudy sky and the wind speed; that is why they had already taken steps to save the books. They did not have to face any losses.

Buyers and visitors were in such a dilemma at the book fair the day after International Mother Language Day and Martyrs' Day. Last year, it rained on the same day of the book fair.

The fair began at 11 am on Saturday and continued till 9 pm. At 10:30 am, prizes were given to the winners of the children's drawing, recitation and music competitions on the main stage of the book fair. There was a children's hour at the fair from 11 am to 1 pm.

Although the crowd was not very large in the morning, the crowd started to increase in the afternoon. But around 6 pm, a gusty wind started with drizzle. At that time, various stalls stopped selling and started packing books. Some covered the books with polythene, some with tarpaulin.

As the rain began in the evening, visitors were seen running around the fair. The wind blew away banners and festoons. The fair's microphone announced that the writers should take shelter under the stage and information center canopy. Some also took shelter at the metro station on the road in front of Bangla Academy.

Marketing officials of Kathaprakash also said that the fair was not damaged much in the hour-long rain.

Due to the rain, the stalls of some publishers were completely covered with tarpaulins. On the other hand, salespeople arranged books at some stalls and waited for buyers.

Sheikh Yunus of Kathaprakash said, "Sales were going well before the rain started. After the rain stopped, the pressure from the people decreased.

The public relations department of the book fair says that 144 new books arrived at the fair on Saturday.

Prize distribution:

At 10:30 am, prizes were given to the winners of the children's drawing, recitation and music competitions on the main stage of the book fair.

The award distribution ceremony was attended by the Academy's Director General Professor Mohammad Azam, Secretary Md. Salim Reza and Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Niaz Ahmed Khan.

At 4 pm, a discussion program on "Pictures of 'Cemetery' in the Literature of Kaikobad" was held on the main stage of the book fair. Imran Kamal presented the article. Habib R. Rahman participated in the discussion.