PM for digital publication, translation to take Bangla literature to global stage

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has stressed the need for digital publication of the books alongside the printed ones and their translation into different languages to reach the Bangla language, literature, and culture on a global stage.

"I request all the publishers to be digital publishers alongside printer ones. We can quickly reach our Bangla language, literature, and culture not only within the country but also on the global stage," she said.

She said this while opening the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2024 for the record 21st time at the Bangla Academy on Thursday.

The prime minister said: "This is the era of science and technology, and we have to move ahead, keeping pace with the present time."

She said the new generation now prefers to read books on a tablet or laptop instead of printed versions.

Despite this fact, the printed versions will not be erased, as many, mostly elderly people, still like to read the printed versions of the books.

The prime minister also suggested making audio versions of the books so that one can learn by hearing.

She asked the Bangla Academy to open a separate web portal to display the digital versions of their publications.

"We will march ahead if we compete with the era," she opined.

The prime minister also stressed the need for translating literary works to reach the global public with Bangla language, literature, culture, and history.

"We can know about a nation or a country through its language and culture. So, translation is required to this end," she said.

The premier said the more Bengali literature is translated into different other languages, the more the global public will know those.

"Everything of ours, including language, literature, and culture, will reach the global people quickly if we can take measures to translate into different other languages," she said.

The prime minister said Bangladeshi people, too, can know foreign literature and cultures through translation.

"There are lots of languages across the globe. We cannot know those without translations," she added.

The prime minister later moved around the book fair by visiting different stalls.
 The Bangla Academy is organizing the world's largest annual book fair on its and Suhrawardy Udyan's premises with the theme "Paro Boi, Garo Desh: Bangabandhur Bangladesh (Read Book, Build Country: Bangabandhu's Bangladesh) this year.

It will remain open for all from 3pm to 9pm on work days and from 11am to 9pm on public holidays, with a one-hour break for lunch and prayers.

At the function, Sheikh Hasina, also the cultural affairs minister, unveiled covers of two books, "Collected Works of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: Volume-2" and "Praner Melay Sheikh Hasina" (Sheikh Hasina in the Beloved Fair), on her addresses delivered 20 times at the book fair, published by Bangla Academy.

Besides, she conferred the Bangla Academy Literary Award 2023 on 16 individuals for notable contributions to various fields of Bangla literature. 

The Bangla Academy Literary Award 2023 was given in 11 categories: poetry, fiction, essay/research, translation, drama, children's literature category, Liberation War, Bangabandhu, environment/science field, biography, and folklore.

The prime minister handed over the awards to the winners.

The award recipients are: Shamim Azad (poetry), Novelists Nuruddin Jahangir and Salma Bani (jointly in fiction), Zulfikar Matin (essay/research), Saleha Chowdhury (translation), Playwrights Mrittika Chakma and Masud Pathik (jointly in drama), Tapankar Chakrabarty (children's literature), Afroza Parvin and Asaduzzaman Asad (research on the Liberation War), Saifullah Mahmud Dulal and Md Majibur Rahman (jointly in research on Bangabandhu), ornithologist Inam Al Haque (environment/science field), Ishak Khan (biography), and Tapan Bagchi and Suman Kumar Das (jointly in folklore).

Along with cultural programs and month-long seminars, there will be arrangements for children and teenagers, which include drawing, music, and recitation competitions.

One minute of silence was observed to show respect to the martyrs of the Language Movement.

Bangla Academy President novelist Selina Hossain and Cultural Affairs Secretary Khalil Ahmed spoke at the function.

The director of the Bangla Academy, poet Mohammad Nurul Huda, and Bangladesh Book Publishers and Sellers Association President Arif Hossain Choton gave the welcome addresses.

A total of 937 stalls have been allocated to 635 organizations in the book fair. The authorities have allotted 173 stalls to 120 organizations on the Bangla Academy grounds and 764 stalls to 515 organizations at the Suhrawardy Udyan.
A total of 37 pavilions have also been allocated this year.

Last year, a total of 901 stalls were allocated in favour of 601 organizations.

Like the previous years, the main stage of the fair will be on the Bangla Academy premises, while the book unwrapping and “Lekhak Bolchi” stages will be set up on the Suhrawardi Udyan premises.

“Shishu Chattar” has also been set up in the Sadhu Sangha area beside the Ramna Kali Temple.

All-out security measures have been taken to ensure foolproof security of the fair, with the deployment of a large number of law enforcement personnel, including police and RAB.

A watch tower and fire tender were set up to monitor the situation around the fair venue.

The fairground and its surrounding areas have been brought under the coverage of CCTV cameras and drone surveillance.

Source: BSS