Dhaka, Feb. 2 -- Bangla Academy President Abul Quasem Fazlul Huq has voiced regret over the Ekushey Book Fair not starting on the first day of the month of the Language Movement this year.

He inaugurated a one-day "symbolic book fair" at Nazrul Mancha on the Bangla Academy premises on Sunday, organised by the "Ekushey Boimela Sangram Parishad" to protest the official fair not opening on Feb 1, its traditional starting date.

Speaking at the programme, Huq said the fair's schedule had been revised after taking into consideration the elections, Ramadan, and other practical constraints.

While the decision was taken in view of reality, he said, the absence of the book fair on the first day of February remained a source of "disappointment"....