Cumilla: A nine-day book fair is set to begin tomorrow in Cumilla, organized jointly by the district administration and the National Book Center. The event will be hosted at the Cumilla Town Hall Maidan and will be open to visitors daily from 3:30 pm to 8:00 pm, running from November 28 to December 6.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Deputy Commissioner Md Reza Hasan announced the upcoming book fair during a press conference held on Thursday morning. The inauguration will be marked by a discussion meeting scheduled for Friday at 3:30 pm. The event will be officiated by Mohammad Nazrul Islam, Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, as the chief guest, with Deputy Commissioner Reza Hasan presiding over the ceremony. High-ranking officials from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the National Book Center, and notable local figures are expected to be in attendance.
Organisers have planned cultural programmes featuring performances by renowned artists to entertain attendees every evening throughout the fair. The event will culminate in a closing ceremony on December 6 at 3:30 pm, which will include a discussion session, award distribution, and further cultural performances. Dr Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, will grace the occasion as the chief guest.
A diverse array of participants, including 94 organizations with 74 prominent Dhaka-based publishing houses, 10 government agencies, and 10 private organizations, will be showcasing their works. In total, one hundred stalls have been erected at the Town Hall grounds to accommodate the exhibitors.
The press conference saw the presence of Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Saiful Islam, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Human Resource Development) Sultana Razia, Publishing Club President Kazi Enamul Haque Faruk, alongside journalists from various print and electronic media outlets.