The fair coincides with Shaheed Dibash celebrations and International Mother Language Day.

Tight security measures, as always have been taken by the Academy to ensure the safety of dignitaries and visitors alike, with an addition of 16 close circuit television cameras (CCTV) to constantly monitor the fair premises and its surroundings.

"We have set up separate exit and entrance gates to avoid congestions, with the entry gate consisting of three queues for visitors' convenience," said Murshid Anwar, the academy's assistant director of the co-ordination and public relations department..

Publishers expressed their satisfaction with the security measure taken.

"Security measures are satisfactory, and we expect no harassment to the visitors in guise of security checks. We expect visitors' co-operation to maintain security," said Monirul Haque, publisher of Ananya Prakashani.

Publishers will be permitted to display and sell their individual publications in this year's fair and will not be allowed to display and sell books of other publishers. A committee has been formed to enforce the restriction and will be alert to untoward incidents as in the previous years.

"We will strictly enforce this rule and take stern action against violators," said Anwar.

Publishers are worried whether the fair authorities would be able to maintain the rule. "If they are ready to enforce and maintain such rules, steps must be taken before the inauguration and not after the fair is open to all," said another leading publisher, preferring anonymity.

The fair will house 461 stalls of 305 organisations this year whereas the number of stalls was 464 of 318 organisations last year.

A high official of Bangla Academy said that publishers suggested a reduction in the number of stalls this year to avoid over-crowding.

But this suggestion could not be considered, as all publishers want individual stalls, said the official.

Participants were busy preparing their own stalls till last evening.

Another academy official said that the chaos among the participating publishers regarding the ownership of the stalls was solved.

"Of the participants who were involved in the ownership chaos, some had not even applied for a stall, let alone getting one through lottery," he said. "Some managed to get a stall by negotiation and political influence, but ended up in blaming the academy for all the chaos," he added.

But Anwar, the assistant director said it was just a misunderstanding that has now been cleared.

This year Bangla Academy will not give an award to a well-presented stall, but three books based on theme, structure and sales will receive awards.

This year publishers will receive 30 percent as commissions on the sale of each book. Previous years' commission was only 25 percent.

The fair will be opened to visitors from 3:00 to 9:00 pm on weekdays and 11:00 am to 9:00pm on holidays. But will be open from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm on February 21.