Dhaka, Feb. 28 -- The last Friday of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair saw children flocking to the dedicated kids' zone with their parents, filling the morning air with excitement.

However, the absence of Sisimpur this year made the concluding Children's Hour somewhat dull.

The fair opened its gates at 11am and the children's hour running until 1pm.

After a month-long event, fatigue was evident on the faces of sales staff at the publishing houses' stalls.

Samiha Anjum, an eighth-grader from Dhanmondi, visited the fair with her parents and took selfies with her mother.

However, she expressed disappointment over the absence of Sisimpur.

"Every year, I come to the book fair and buy some books. But this time, many of my favourite authors are ...