Prominent and veteran writers have succeeded in keeping their readerships intact at the Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela amid emergence of a number of promising authors.

Readers have been crowding the stalls where the newly published books of celebrated authors are available and are buying books with autographs of their favourite writers.

“I’m an avid reader of Imdadul Haq Milan’s novels and short stories. His amalgamation of simple language and vivid and reliable description are just amazing. Every year I come to the book fair to buy his books as his write-ups always tell of optimism. I’ve bought his latest two books for me and my daughter,” Manoshi Nag told the Daily Sun on Thursday, the eighth day of the fair, while purchasing books from the stall of Ananya Prokashoni.

Ananya Prokashoni’s Publisher Monirul Haque said they have brought two books by Imdadul Haq Milan this year. ‘Ondhokar Namte Pareni’ is a compilation of seven short stories while ‘Chor Eshe Golpo Korechilo’ consists of eight short stories for teens.

According to him, Imdadul Haq Milan has separate readerships and his readers along with others are buying these books.

Novelist Harishankar Jaladas has come up with his novel ‘Ektu Darau’ this year. The tale of two elderly people from two separate streams of the society reaches the same touchline where old age reduces their importance in family and elsewhere. In short, the crisis of aged persons is the focus on the novel.

Readers have showed much interest in the novel with common yet less discussed content.

Prothoma has also brought author Anisul Hoque’s ‘Kokhono Amar Make’, a novel focusing on the up-bringing of four siblings in a suburb, role of their parents in their lives and the outcome of their family.

Being busy with giving autographs at the Prothoma stall, Anisul Hoque said ‘Kokhono Amar Make’ is the story of all readers who were born and brought up in small towns.

Prothoma’s salesperson Wazed Ahmed said the sale of both the novels is good as fiction readers have loved these two.

Among the novels by other popular writers, Anwara Syed Haq’s ‘Nisshongo Pyramid’, Mostafa Kamal’s ‘Karbala Upakhyan’, Sumonto Aslam’s ‘Ordhek Tumi Ordhek Bonolota Sen’, Swakrito Noman’s ‘Ihojoubon’ and Sadat Hossain’s ‘Agundana Meye’ have attracted many readers’ attention, said the readers and publishers on Thursday.

On the eighth day of the book fair, a discussion programme titled “Remembrance: Ahmed Sharif” was held at the main stage of the book fair with Prof Abul Ahsan Chowdhury in the chair.

Rajib Sarkar presented the keynote paper while Morshed Shafiul Hasan and Afzalul Bashar were present as discussants.

Children’s writer Dipu Mahmud, researcher Ali Akbar Tabi, poet Shuman Sardar and fictionist Shahria Dina discussed their new books at the Lekhok Bolchi stage.

Poet Ashraf Ahmed, Nasreen Jahan, Kamrul Hasan and Alfred Khokon recited self-composed poems at the cultural event. Artiste Mahidul Islam, Shakila Matin Mridula and Atanu Karanjai also recited poems while Mohammad Ashraful Islam recited puthi at the programme.

Besides, there were performances of cultural organisation ‘Anandan’ under the management of AK Azad and ‘Shur Shudha Sangeetayatan’ directed by Shahabuddin Ahmed Dolan. Singers Akramul Islam, Abu Bakar Siddiq, Delwar Hossain Boyati, Amjad Dewan, Lovely Deb and Abdul Awal performed music.

According to the Bangla Academy, some 66 new books hit the stalls on the day.

Today, on the ninth day of the fair, a painting competition will be organised for children on the Bangla Academy premises at 8:30am during the Shishu Prohor and the primary selection of recitation competition will be held at Abdul Karim Shahitya Bisharad Auditorium at 10:00am.

Besides, a discussion on “Remembrance: S Wazed Ali” will be held on the main stage of the book fair at 4:00pm.

Abu Hena Mostafa Enam will present the keynote paper while Iktiar Chowdhury and Kudrat-e-Khuda will participate in the discussion to be presided over by Syed Akram Hossain.