Bangladesh Book Fair begins in Kolkata
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen expressed his optimism that the book fair will strengthen the relations between the two neighboring countries
The ninth Bangladesh Book Fair-2019 began at Mohar Kunja in Kolkata on Friday.
Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata is organising the 10-day fair in association with Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Gyan O Srijonshil Prokashok Samity.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen inaugurated the fair as the chief guest with Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata Toufique Hasan in the chair.
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Momen expressed his optimism that the book fair will strengthen the relations between the two neighboring countries and bring together the book lovers of Bangladesh and West Bengal.
He said the people of Bangladesh and West Bengal have common language and it makes close relations among the people.
Referring to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's address at the United Nations General Assembly in Bengali, Abdul Momen said Bangabandhu glorified the Bengali language in the world by giving his speech in the mother tongue at the UN.
Eminent poet of West Bengal Shankha Ghosh and former director general of Bangla Academy Professor Prof Shamsuzzaman Khan attended the opening ceremony as the guests of honour.
Kolkata Municipal Corporation's Mayor-in-Council member Debashish Kumar, Bangladesh Publishers and Book-Sellers Association President Md Arif Hossain and Publishers and Book Sellers Guild, Kolkata General Secretary Sudhanshu Dey attended it as the special guests.
A total of 68 book stalls of leading publishing houses of Bangladesh were set up at the fair.
The fair will remain open for all from 2pm to 8pm from Friday to Thursday while it will remain open from 4pm to 10pm on Saturday and Sunday.
