Dhaka, Jan. 22 -- The Ekushey Book Fair is set to begin on Feb 1 in keeping with tradition as the coronavirus pandemic that delayed the opening of the month-long programme in the past two years ebbed.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the fair in person and it will continue until Feb 28. The main fair venue will be on the academy premises as usual, said Muhammad Nurul Huda, director general of the academy. The book launch and meetings with writers will be at the Suhrawardy Udyan, a historic park just across from Bangla Academy.

After inspecting the preparations on Saturday, State Minister for Culture KM Khalid said a seven-member task force was formed to monitor the fair in line with a set of guidelines. "The organisations th...