Govt organisations’ stalls drawing visitors

The stalls of government service providers and autonomous institutions have been drawing a good number of book lovers at the Bangla Academy portion of the month-long Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela this year.

Out of 560 organisations, 126 government and autonomous institutions have set up stalls on Bangla Academy premises.

Of these institutions, most were seen displaying books brought out by other publication houses, as they have few books published by themselves.

"We just want to present a larger array of books for sales, so it does not matter who is selling whose books, if the publication houses do not make complains," said Md Anwar Hossain, director at Bangla Academy.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police's stall is getting a good response from fair visitors, as they're selling a number of titles written by police personnel and books on Liberation War, according to stall attendants.  

"80 to 100 books are being sold daily on an average, but it's not important as the prime aim of installing a stall here is to get closer to the people" said Abu Ali, a sub-inspector.

"I have bought two science fiction titles 'Lal Diary' and 'Mayabi Jotsnar Boshonte' written by police official Mostak Ahmed," said Titash Baha, a student of fine arts at Dhaka University.

Bangladesh Chhatra League, Jubo League, Bangabandhu Foundation and Joy Bangla Academy's stalls were selling books on Bangabandhu, Liberation War and various other fiction and nonfiction books.

The other stalls making good sales include Dhaka University Publications, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, National Museum, Liberation War Museum, Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Dhaka Reporters' Unity and National Curriculum Text Books.

Meanwhile, writer Rudra Goswami was seen signing books and interacting with readers at Anindya Publishers' stall at the fair, with two of his new releases "Obhijog Nei" and "Ghum Bhangchei".

"Through my writings, I want to awaken a feeling of love everywhere, as nothing is possible without love," said the writer.