Effat Sania Nancy, Khulna

The Khulna Divisional Book Fair will be held for seven days from November 26 to December 2 at the office of the Divisional Commissioner.

The National Book Center is organizing this fair under the guidance of the Ministry of Culture and with the cooperation of Khulna Divisional Commissioner's office. Today (Sunday) this information was informed in the press briefing organized in the meeting room of Khulna Divisional Commissioner's office.

During the pre-briefing, Khulna Divisional Commissioner Md. Helal Mahmud Sharif said that books are the carriers of knowledge. Therefore, there is no substitute for regular study to build a knowledge-based nation. Students of educational institutions should be interested in e-books as well as printed books. Departmental book fairs are expected to play a positive role in bringing back reading habits among people.

It was informed at the event that the book fair will continue from 3 pm to 9:30 pm every day. The weekend fair starts at 10 am and continues till 9:30 pm. 60 of the 80 stalls of the fair will display and sell the books of the publishers coming from Dhaka. Apart from this, 10 stalls will be allotted to the publishers of Khulna division, four stalls to different government offices and two stalls to the members of the law enforcement forces.

The fair premises will have a media corner for media workers, a writer's corner for poets and writers and food stalls. Discussions, seminars, new book unveilings, topical essay readings, cultural programs and other competitions including quizzes for children and teenagers will be organized on the stage located in the fair grounds during the fair. The opening of the fair will be held on November 26 at 3 pm.

Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md Hussain Shawkat, Principal Librarian-cum-Deputy Director of Divisional Public Library Mohammad Hamidur Rahman along with print and electronic media working in Khulna were present at the press briefing.