The 10-day 6th book fair tilted “Bangladesh Boi Mela” will begin on Thursday in Kolkata of India.

Academic and Creative Publishers Association of Bangladesh will organise the fair in collaboration of the cultural affairs ministry of Bangladesh, National Book Centre and Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) under the supervision of Bangladesh deputy high commission in Kolkata.

Cultural Affairs Secretary Akhtari Momtaz disclosed the details of the fair at a press conference at the secretariat yesterday.

She said the fair will be very beneficial to introducing Bangladeshi writers and their books to the readers of West Bengal. A total of 50 Bangladeshi publishers will participate in the fair on Rabindra Sadan premises.

Emeritus Professor Anisuzzaman of Dhaka University will inaugurate the fair while Education Minister of West Bengal Partha Chatterjee will attend the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest.

Prominent poet and essayist Shankha Ghosh will also be present as a guest of honour.

A cultural programme will be arranged where Bangladeshi singers Meher Afroz Shaon and Farida Parveen are expected to perform. Poets from both Bangladesh and India will recite some poems marking the event.

A total of five seminars on various issues of Bangla literature will be held during the fair.

The book fair will be open for all from 2 pm to 8 pm every day from Monday to Friday while from 3 pm to 8 pm on Saturday and Sunday till September 10.