Photo: Sheikh Mehedi Morshed

Publishers, writers, cover artists and workers are busy preparing for the Ekushey Grantha Mela or as it is endearingly reffered to - the Boi Mela - which is set to commence tomorrow. 

As it turns out, workers have been skipping their lunches because of the workload!

The manager of Panini Printers mentions that this is the busiest time of the year. However, everyone is in high spirits for the fair. Azam, a binding worker, who has been in the business for the last 35 years, says, “I do my job with utmost care. The feeling is priceless when the bounded books look good.”

The cover artists are equally busy. Some of them finish their work at Banglabazar, while others stay at their workplaces. According to the publishers, along with new books, popular old books by Humayun Ahmed and Muhammed Zafar Iqbal are also being re-printed.

Monirul Hoque, owner of Ananya Prokashoni, and Hasan Zayedi Tuhin, owner of Pearl Publications says that everyone starts preparing for the Boi Mela from November of the previous year. However, the madness starts from January.

“The Ekushey Boi Mela plays an essential role in shaping the minds of the youth of our country. We work hard to contribute to the cause,” says Farid Ahmed, president of Bangladesh Gyan O Srijonshil Prokashok Samity, an association of publishers of knowledge-based and creative books.