The curtain of the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair drops today (March 2) on the premises of Bangla Academy at the Suhrawardy Uddyan in Dhaka. Meanwhile, the time of the fair was extended by two days to fulfill the demand of the publishers. It was expected that sales would be satisfactory on Friday but on Thursday night, the mourning shadows fell on the fair due to the fire in the multi-storey building on Bailey Road. So, the fair was not as crowded as before on Friday. There was also a shadow of mourning among the writers and publishers. Today (March 2) the last day of book fair, publishers hopes that people will gather the fair again. According to the Bangla Academy information centre, the number of new books in this year's book fair is more than 3,800. About 219 new books introduced to the fair on the extended day.  

The deadline of Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2024 has been extended for two more days. As a result, the largest book fair in the country will continue till March 2.  According to the publishers, they will enjoy a surge in sales during two weekly holidays. The publishers could not enjoy a good strat due to earlier preparations and rain. So, many are suffering financially.  Bangla Academy Director General Mohammad Nurul Huda announced the extension date of the book fair from the announcement center at 9pm. He said the book fair has been extended by two days with the kind consent of the Prime Minister. He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has responded to the request to extend the deadline for the book fair by two days. The book fair will continue till March 2.

The month-long "Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela 2024", the country's largest book fair, is going to begin on its traditional date of the first day of February this year. "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to open the fair to be held under the auspices of Bangla Academy on its premises and Suhrawardy Udyan on February 1 at 3 pm," Member Secretary of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair Committee Dr KM Muzahidul Islam told BSS.   A total of 895 stalls have been allocated to 573 organizations. Among them 786 are general stalls while 109 stalls will be dedicated to little magazine chattar, said Muzahidul. Moreover, a total of 37 pavilions have been allocated this year. Last year, a total of 901 stalls were allocated in favour of 601 organizations. This year, the entire work of the fair is being done by Bangla Academy alone to avoid any criticism, said Muzahidul, adding, "In the previous years, some event management companies were involved in fair arrangements which faced some criticism last year".   The preparation for the fair started soon after the end of the last fair and committees have been formulated in three-phase - committee for preparation phase, committee for inaugural ceremony and separate committees for conducting the month-long fair. Along with cultural programmes and month-long seminars, there will be arrangements for children and teenagers which include drawing, music and recitation competitions. Stall allotment for old and newly enlisted publications was done through a digitalized lottery system on January 23, said the organizers. Meanwhile, besides the enlisted 601 organizations, some 70 new publications have applied to get stall allocation responding to the notice. Among them, 23 new publications got selected.   Like previous years, the main stage of the fair will be on the Bangla Academy premises while book unwrapping and 'Lekhak Bolchi' stages will be set up on Suhrawardi Udyan premises, said Mujahidul. 'Shishu Chattar' has also been set up in Sadhu Shanga area beside the Ramna Kali Temple. For notable contributions to various aspects of Bangla literature, this year, the Bangla Academy Literary Award-2023 will be given to 16 individuals in 11 categories- poetry, fiction, essay/research, translation, drama, children's literature category, Liberation War, Bangabandhu, environment/science field, biography and folklore.   Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over the awards at the inaugural ceremony of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2024 scheduled to begin on February 1, said the release. The award recipients are: Shamim Azad (poetry), Novelists Nuruddin Jahangir and Salma Bani (jointly in fiction), Zulfikar Matin (essay/research), Saleha Chowdhury (translation), Playwrights Mrittika Chakma and Masud Pathik (jointly in drama), Tapankar Chakrabarty (children's literature), Afroza Parvin and Asaduzzaman Asad (research on the Liberation War), Saifullah Mahmud Dulal and Md Mojibur Rahman (research on Bangabandhu), ornithologist Inam Al Haque (environment/science field), Ishak Khan (biography) and Tapan Bagchi and Suman Kumar Das (jointly in folklore). Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police has taken all measures like the previous years to ensure foolproof security of the Fair considering current political situation and challenges caused from operation of the metro rail in the book  fair area. Militancy, arson attacks and traffic management are among the main challenges centering the book fair, DMP said in a press release after a meeting with senior police officials. DMP observed that Metrorail service has appeared as a new challenge as it was noticed that miscreants have been trying to carry out sabotages on the Metrorail. However, DMP will deploy a sufficient number of police personnel in both uniform and plain cloth inside and outside the book fair ground while a watch tower and fire tender will be set up to monitor everything around the fair venue, he said. Besides, the fairground and its surroundings will be monitored round the clock with CCTV cameras and drones, DMP commissioner said. Team of DMP will sweep the whole venue while social media will be monitored to thwart rumours.   Source: BSS

The 28th Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) is set to begin tomorrow (Jan 21) at the month-long event's permanent venue in Purbachal. The inaugural ceremony of the fair will take place at 10:30 am at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre.   DITF is co-organised by the Ministry of Commerce and the Export Promotion Bureau. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the fair as the chief guest, with State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam presiding over the ceremony.  The fair will open at 10am and close at 9pm on weekdays. On weekends, the visitors can stay until 10pm. The entry fee for adults has been fixed at Tk 50 while that for minors at Tk 25. Freedom fighters and the physically challenged can enter the venue without any fee.  The showcase normally begins on the first day of January, but this year it was delayed because of the January 7 election. Speaking at the press conference, State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam said the goal of the fair is to increase exports by showcasing local products.   "We will focus more on tannery and jute products as part of diversification." He also informed of a transport facility from Farmgate to Purbachal through the elevated expressway so that people from the capital can visit the fair easily.  Ahsanul Islam also vowed to ensure fair prices at the exposition.  Turkey, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Iran (Six countries) alongside local companies are taking part in the fair where exhibitors will showcase products in 351 stalls, pavilions, and mini-pavilions. There will also be a food court which can accommodate up to 500 people. There are also a prayer room, children's playground, media corner, office rooms, medical rooms, guestrooms for officials, and stores. The parking area can provide facilities for 500 vehicles. The Dhaka International Trade Fair was first held in 1995.

The Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) will begin at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Dhaka’s Purbachal area on January 21.  Haider Ali, Information and Public Relations Officer of the Commerce Ministry, confirmed the matter.   Haider said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the month-long fair at Purbachal.  The Dhaka International Trade Fair was first held in 1995. Due to Covid-19 pandemic, it was not possible to organise the fair in 2021. The Ministry of Commerce and Export Promotion Bureau jointly organise the fair.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal today (Dec 30) vowed that the 12th Jatiya Sangsad elections must be free and fair at any cost. "The elections to the next 12th Jatiya Sangsad must be fair at any cost. . . and the Election Commission (EC) is working relentlessly for this purpose," the CEC told a view-exchange-meeting with law enforcers and local administration at Shilpakala Academy here. "The election commission is firm to hold this election in a free, fair and impartial manner . . . We have already got all necessary manpower support as per the requirement from the government to ensure fair polls," Habibul Awal categorically said. He said the EC is working sincerely right now to ensure all candidates' equal opportunities in the election race. The polls process is progressing continuously with the cooperation of the government and the utmost sincerity of the officials of field administration as well, the CEC added. Earlier, the CEC exchanged views with the candidates of six constituencies of the district at Sylhet Circuit House at 10 am. Among others, Additional Divisional Commissioner Md. Jasim Uddin, Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Sheikh Russel Ahmed and senior officials concerned were also present.  

Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina today asked her party men to work for ensuring a free, fair and peaceful national election on January 7 so that none can raise any question about it. She also reiterated her call to vote for "Boat" for continuation of the development. "You will work for holding the next general election in a free, fair and peaceful manner so that none can raise any question about the polls," she said. She made the call while virtually addressing the election rallies in Panchagarh and Lalmonirhat in Rangpur division, Natore and Pabna in Rajshahi division and Khagrachhari in Chattogram division together from the AL office at Tejgaon here this afternoon. The AL chief asked her party men to make sure the participation of the people in the next polls so that they can vote freely for the candidates of their choice. "Participation of the people and the voters in the upcoming election is a must. It matters nothing which party is taking part in the election or not," she said. She mentioned that BNP will not participate in the election as there is no guarantee of rigging votes. "There was no question about the fairness of 2008 election. BNP-led alliance only got 30 seats in that election. They will not take part in this election as they failed to assume power in 2008," she said. The premier reminded all that the BNP was been dislodged from the power twice by the countrymen on charges of vote rigging. But the Awami League believes in election and thus empowers the people as it had established democracy and voting rights of the people after a long struggle.  The AL chief asked her party men to shun the path of violence and give scope for electioneering to every candidate, including the independent candidates of her party, to drum up public supports in favour of them. She said all the candidates will have to go to the people and seek vote for them shunning the path of violence without interrupting others in their election campaign. "We want the people to cast their vote freely. They will vote for the candidates of their choice and thus democracy will be strengthened further," she said. Otherwise, Bangladesh and its development will be ruined, she warned. "Those who get votes from the people will be elected. None will interfere with anyone's rights. I don't want to see any violence and conflict to this end," she said. She sounded a note of warning against his party men in case of any involvement in violence over the election. "If any violence occurs and involvement of any of my partymen is found, they will not be spared. Keep in mind that I will take appropriate measures in this regard," she said. The Awami League president once again sought vote for her party's electoral symbol 'Boat' for the continuation of the ongoing development and transforming the country into a poverty-and hunger-free Smart Bangladesh. "The people of the country had got independence and financial freedom while Bangladesh has earned the status of a developing country... We will build a developed, prosperous, poverty-and hunger-free Smart Bangladesh if people vote us to power to serve them," she said. The Awami League president formally started the party's electioneering on Wednesday through the visits to the shrines of saints Shahjalal and Shah Paran in Sylhet. She then attend a public rally, organised by Sylhet district and city units of the AL, at the Government Alia Madrasa ground in the city's Chowhatta area at 2:00pm. She is expected to be in Barishal on December 29 and address an election rally in the district town at 3:00pm on that day. Sheikh Hasina will then visit Gopalganj on December 30 and address a rally in Gopalganj-3 (Tungipara and Kotalipara) constituency. She will address the AL rally in Madaripur-3 the same day. Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, MP, Presidium Members Kazi Zafarullah and Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Join General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, MP, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua and his deputy Sayem Khan were present at Tejgaon party office end. While local AL leaders were present at the five district rallies which turned into human seas with participation of hundreds of thousands of people from all strata of life.  A video documentary on the unprecedented nationwide developments in every sector, including health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, information communication and technology, poverty reduction, socio-economic and food production, carried out by the Awami League government in the last 15 years, was screened on the occasion. Source : BSS

"It is very unfortunate that some specific foreign countries are continuously exerting pressure on Bangladesh centring polls," Chief Ellection commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal says. 12th parliamentary polls must be free and fair for the welfare of the country's economy and future, CEC Kazi Habibul Awal said today. "We want free, fair and credible polls. Unfortunately, some foreign countries are extending their claws on Bangladesh, dominating the country centering the polls." he said while inaugurating a training programme for the electoral enquiry committee at the Electoral Training Institute in the capital. "To save ourselves, the garment sector and the people, the upcoming election must be free, fair and credible. Both the general People and the foreigners want such an election," he expressed. Chief Election commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal added, "The country is in "crisis" over the election. There is doubt regarding trust. We need to come out from it. Everybody must discharge their duties very responsibly." He said that the Election Commission wanted a fair election with no controversy result. The US declared, "If anybody is responsible for undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh then they would impose visa restrictions on individuals and their immediate family members . This year in September, Washington told, they had started applying the restrictions, but they would not reveal the names of people who are facing the curbs.

The US Embassy, through its EducationUSA platform, in partnership with EdPrograms, will host US University fairs and tours in Dhaka, and Chattogram.  The program aims to provide prospective students, teachers, and college counsellors with a unique opportunity to learn about the US higher education application process from admissions officers of 31 accredited higher education institutions, according to a press release US Embassy.  The tour entails two university fairs – the first one will be held at the Radisson Blu Chittagong Bay View on Thursday, September 7, and the second one at Banani's Sheraton Dhaka on Saturday,  September 9. Chattogram Fair:  September 7, 2023: 04:00 pm to 06:00 pm  Both Undergraduate and Graduate applicants can attend this fair  Dhaka Fair:  September 9, 2023:  Undergraduate Fair: 11:00 am to 01:00 pm  Graduate Fair: 03:00 pm to 06:00 pm  Register here: https://edusafair.com EducationUSA is the official source on US higher education Follow the EducationUSA Bangladesh's Facebook page for more information about the fair at www.Facebook.com/EdUSABangladesh or by emailing [email protected].

US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "They support everyone’s right to freely exercise their role in a democratic society. We oppose any restrictions on human rights." on July 24, US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters during a regular media briefing. In that briefing, He added, "They (US) do not take a position with respect to any political party in Bangladesh or in other countries.But we believe that Bangladesh and all countries throughout the world should have free and fair elections."  "Visa restrictions would apply to anyone who undermines the democratic election process in Bangladesh", He also added this.