A five-day book fair in memory of Shaheed Abu Sayeed in Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR), will begin tomorrow. Photo: BSS

RANGPUR, Feb 17, 2025 (BSS) - A five-day book fair in memory of Shaheed Abu Sayeed, a meritorious student of the 12th batch of the English Department of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR), will begin tomorrow.
 
Abu Sayeed was martyred in police firing while taking part in the indomitable anti-discrimination student movement on July 16 last year
in front of the university.

His martyrdom instantly ignited mass protests across the country turning the anti-discrimination student movement into a student-people uprising to oust the then fascist and mass killer Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and forcing her to flee from the country on August 5.

This book fair, for the first time, will be held at the Independence Memorial Ground on the university campus from February 18 to February 22, at the initiative of the university administration.

Vice-chancellor Professor Dr Md Shawkat Ali disclosed the information tolocal reporters at a press conference organized at the university's
administrative building on Sunday.
 
Shaheed Abu Sayeed's father Md Maqbul Hossain and Md Noor Islam, father of Shaheed Felani Khatun, who was killed in the firing of Indian BSF on the border of Nageshwari upazila of Kurigram, will jointly inaugurate the Shaheed Abu Sayeed Book Fair.
 
Vice-chancellor Professor Shawkat Ali said, this book fair will start a cultural journey towards Bangladesh in the new Bangladesh achieved through the sacrifice of Shaheed Abu Sayeed.
 
"Every year, the history, tradition and culture of the northern region will be presented to the entire nation through this book fair," he said, adding that this book fair will play an important role in creating the habit of reading books, writers and readers.
 
For those who are unable to go to the Amar Ekushey Book Fair in Dhaka city due to time and distance, he said, the Shaheed Abu Sayeed Book Fair will create a great opportunity for them to buy and read books.
 
The Vice-chancellor also said that although the book fair was organized for a short period this year, this book fair will be organized for a long period in the future.
 
The five-day book fair will also feature discussions, writer-reader chats, recitations, and cultural programmes.
 
"Renowned journalist Daily Amar Desh Editor Mahmudur Rahman and DailyJugantor Editor Poet Abdul Hye Sikder, along with poets, writers, andintellectuals, will participate as discussants in the book fair," he said.
 
"A total of stalls will participate in this year's book fair," the Vice-chancellor said.
 
Convener of the Shahid Abu Sayeed Book Fair Organizing Committee Professor Dr Md Elias Pramanik, its Member-secretary Professor Dr Md Shahzaman, Dean of the. Faculty of Life and Earth Science Associate Prof Dr Md Emdadul Haque, Registrar Dr Md Harun-or Rashid, and teachers and students of various departments were present on the occasion.