Staff- Correspondent:Bengali Academy finally announced the date of Ekushey Book Fair. The book fair will be launched from March 18.

Information was provided to the journalists by the Director General of Bangla Academy Habibullah Siraj on Monday afternoon.

However,the duration of the fair is yet to be decided, he added. "Whether the fair will run for a month, will be fixed after meeting with the publishers.”

The Director General of Bangla Academy said that permission has been obtained from the Prime Minister's Office today. We will hold a book fair from March 18. We want to continue the fair till 14th April, 1st of Baishakh. If any objection arises, we will set the closing of the fair on the day before the starting of Ramadan."

According to the tradition, the book fair starts from the first day of February, the month of historic language Movement, But this year it was suspended due to coronavirus. The Bangla Academy announced the date amid rumors that this year's book fair may be canceled.

Earlier, there was an announcement to hold the fair virtually to curb the transmition.

The authorities are organizing the fair maintaining the safety protocols, including mandatory use of face masks, sanitizers, social distancing, and other hygiene measures, the source added.