With gradually gaining momentum, the month-long Ekushey Book Fair saw huge crowds on Saturday as booklovers and people from all strata thronged the fair.

Setting an air of inspiration for the readers, the booklovers were seen roaming around the fair venue as the sale at the stalls increased significantly. The sellers struggled to manage huge number of visitors intending to buy books of their choices, BSS reports.

Thousands of people entered the fairground on Bangla Academy premises and adjoining Suhrawrady Uddyan after waiting in long queues for hours in the morning. The gate opened at 11 am, as today is a weekly holiday.

Meanwhile, the Bangla Academy arranged a special segment for the children in the morning. It observed ‘Shishu Prohor’ from 11am to 1pm. The event attracted a large number of children.

However, a total of 218 new books hit the fair today raising the total number at 1,313 on the ninth day of the fair.

Besides, the primary phase of the competitions on music, general knowledge and extempore speech for children and juveniles was held on the main stage of the fair. A total of 132 children took part in the competition under three categories.

Apart from this, a discussion titled ‘Writer Abdul Haque: Birth Centenary’ was held in the afternoon. Syed Azizul Haque presented a keynote paper in the discussion with Subrata Barua in the chair.

Eminent journalist Ajay Dasgupta, poet Sohrab Hasan and researcher Ahmad Mazher took part in the discussion.