Printed books still appeal to Bangladeshi readers

Printed words still hold the appeal for book lovers.

IANS/Dhaka

While in many parts of the world the printed page is now facing extinction due to the Internet and online publications, people in Bangladesh seem to keep the romantic appeal of books and other printed materials alive.

This can be deduced from hundreds of visitors who have waited in long queues to enter Bangladesh’s largest annual book fair that opened in this capital city early this month, eager to buy books and other published materials.

“Internet books could never diminish the appeal of printed books,” A K Nasir Ahmed Selim, a leading book publisher, said.

He said availability of electronic books might pose a threat to printed books, but it could never diminish the appeal of the printed materials, Xinhua reported.

Selim said the annual book fair plays a significant role in keeping the printed books alive amid the challenges posed by the Internet and online publications.

“A reader doesn’t read an online book or an e-book as seriously as he/she reads a printed book,” said Selim whose publishing house never failed to put up a stall in the fair for the past two decades.

Amar Ekushey Boi Mela, which literally means “Immortal Twenty First Book Fair,” is being held in Dhaka’s Bangla Academy premises in commemoration of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for protecting the dignity of the mother tongue on February 21, 1952. The day is now being observed throughout the world as “International Mother Language Day.”

Every day, hundreds of bookworms of all ages flock to the month-long book fair with friends and families in search of new books written by their favourite authors.

An enthusiastic eight-year-old Zahra Fatima Amin, who came with her parents, was seen browsing through books at the children’s corner of the fair.

“I like to read books. I like stories of horror,” Zahra said. “Every year I come to the fair and buy some books, such as fairy tale, adventure story.”

Zahra’s mother Fariel Samiha Azim said that she wants her children to read Bangla books.

“Even if this generation is used to Internet and my children are studying in English medium schools, I still ask them to read Bangla books,” Azim said.

Nuara Choudhury, a young lady who grew up in London, said that she is interested in reading Bangla books.

“I am really excited to visit the book fair because it gives me the chance to learn more about Bangladesh through the books that are being sold in the fair,” Choudhury said.