Five-Day Book Fair Begins at Chittagong University

Chittagong Bureau    |    ০৩:৪১ পিএম, ২০২৫-০২-০৯

A five-day Amar Ekushey Book Fair has started at Chittagong University (CU) under the theme, "Let Books Be a Source of Joy and Awareness; Everyone is Invited to the Book Fair." The fair was inaugurated on Sunday (February 9) at 10 AM by the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Dr. Mohammad Yahya Akhtar. The opening ceremony was chaired by the university's Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic), Professor Dr. Md. Shamim Uddin Khan. Special guests included the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Md. Kamal Uddin and former Chaksu VP SM Fazlul Haque.

In his speech, the Chief Guest, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Yahya Akhtar, said, "Coming to the book fair, chatting, and flipping through books is a part of the fair experience. Every year, new books are being published. Our respected teachers and students are writing books. However, I have observed that the number of quality books at the book fair is gradually decreasing."He further mentioned, "A recent survey by the Bangla Academy revealed that only 10% of the books published in the book fair are of good quality. The remaining 90% have poor editing, lack of content, and no clear theme. I would blame the chaos at the Bangla Academy for this."

In his special address, Pro Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Md. Kamal Uddin stated, "The journey of the national book fair began in remembrance of Ekushey. Over time, it has gradually decentralized. Now, book fairs are being held at university campuses. The book fair aims to attract readers and nurture their thinking and intellectual development." The President of the Chittagong Creative Publishers Association, Shahabuddin Hasan Babu, said, "Books are our true friends. From books, we learn, understand, and grow. That’s why we must read books and build a friendship with them."

A student from the university, Ahmed Shanto, said, "A book fair is not just a fair. It is also a carrier of our thoughts and intellectual development. As a nation, we are often indifferent to books. We get stuck in the system and cannot reach books. When the book fair is held in the city, it is difficult for us to participate. Therefore, holding the book fair on campus is a great opportunity for our students. Coming to the fair doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to buy books." The book fair will run every day from 9 AM to 10 PM. It features 30 stalls where books from national, regional, cultural, and political organizations can be found.