PM inaugurates Amar Ekushey Book Fair

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday inaugurated the Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2022 in the city.

She opened the book fair on the Bangla Academy premises joining virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence here this afternoon.

The fair, a yearly event of booklovers and publishers, began on the Bangla Academy premises and at adjoining Suhrawardy Udyan in the city.

The main theme of the fair-2022 is "Birth Centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Golden Jubilee of Country's Independence."

Sheikh Hasina also distributed the Bangla Academy Sahitya Puroshkar-2021 (Bangla Academy Literature Award) at the opening ceremony.

On behalf of the prime minister, State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid handed over the awards to the recipients and spoke at the function.

Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Abul Mansur spoke on the occasion with Bangla Academy President writer Selina Hossain in the chair. Bangla Academy Director General poet Mohammad Nurul Huda delivered the welcome speech.

The award recipients for 2021 are -- Asad Mannan, Bimal Guha (Poetry); Jharna Rahman, Bishwajit Chowdhury (Literature); Hosenuddin Hossain (Essay/Research); Aminur Rahman, Rafik-um-Munir Chowhdhury (Translation); Sadhana Ahmed (Drama); Rafikur Rashid (Children's Literature); Panna Kaiser (Liberation War related research); Harun-ur-Rashid (Bangabandhu related research); Shubhagata Chowdhury (Science Fiction/Environmental Science), Sufia Khatun, Haider Akbar Khan Rano (Autobiography/Travelogue) and Aminur
Rahman Sultan (Folklore).

Each awardee received a cheque of TK 3 lakh and crest.

Bangla Academy Sahitya Puroshkar is given by the Bangla Academy in recognition to advancement and overall contribution to the field of Bengali language and literature.