9th edition of Bangladesh Book Fair kicked off at Mohor Kunja

Kolkata: The ninth edition of the Bangladesh Book Fair kicked off at Mohor Kunja on Friday.

The 10-day fair is organised by Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata.

While Bangladesh foreign affairs minister Abul Kalam Abdul Momen inaugurated the book fair, Bengali poet Shankha Ghosh, Member Mayor-in-Council (Parks & Gardens) Debasish Kumar and Toufique Hasan, Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Kolkata were present on the occasion.

"I am glad to be here. It (Bangladesh Book Fair) is a platform where writers exhibit their talents before the book lovers," said Momen.

The fair will also host cultural events, including programmes highlighting Bangladeshi folk traditions.

"The main objective of book fair is not only selling books but also to strengthen the ties between the two countries (India and Bangladesh)," said Hasan.

"We have been orgainsing the book fair for the past eight years. The response is been very good. We are expecting more enthusiasm this time. This year, there are 60 stalls and 80 publications," said Dr Inamul Haq, joint secretary of 'Bhasa O Chetana Samiti' (a language and awareness forum).

"The bestselling book of Sadat Hossain is the most demanding. We expect that the sale of books will increase because we are keeping only those books of that are interesting and being demanded by books lovers," said Faruk Hossain, a stall owner.