An eight-day divisional Book Fair started on Saturday on divisional public library premises in the Khulna city. Ministry of Cultural Affairs in cooperation with National Bibliography, Divisional Administration, Bangladesh Book Publisher and Book Selling Association organised the fair.
Aiming at building 'Smart Bangladesh' and to enhance book reading habits among the common people, the government has taken the decision to organise divisional- level book fairs across the country.
Mayor of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Talukder Abdul Khaleque addressed the opening ceremony of the fair as the chief guest with joint secretary of Cultural Affair Ministry Md Asaduzzaman, additional Police Commissioner of KMP Sarder Rakibul Islam, Deputy Commissioner Khondokar Yasir Arefin, addressed as special guests.
Additional divisional commissioner Md Firoz Shah presided over the function while Deputy Director of Divisional Public Library Mohammad Hamidur Rahman delivered the welcome speech.
The chief guest KCC Mayor said books enlighten people and creative books are essential for the mental development of the children. Books help people to acquire knowledge about the outside world.
Books can also act like a friend, and can pull one up from moral degradation, he said, adding: "Nothing but a book can remove social degradation and dishonesty as well. Side by side with building 'Smart Bangladesh', the book is must to make the society non-communal and corruption-free."
Earlier, the chief guest inaugurated the book fair by releasing balloons and pigeons. Besides, various seminars, subject oriented discussion meetings regarding cultural programmes participants by the performers of Shilpakala Academy and quiz-competition for children will be held every day.
The fair will remain open from 3.00pm to 9.30pm and on holidays it will open from 10 am to 9.30 pm.
