Children along with their guardians started entering the fairground on the morning of the fourth day of Shishu Prahar, dedicated hours for children from 11:00am to 1:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Children along with their guardians started entering the fairground on the morning of the fourth day of Shishu Prahar, dedicated hours for children from 11:00am to 1:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Children along with their guardians started entering the fairground on the morning of the fourth day of Shishu Prahar, dedicated hours for children from 11:00am to 1:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

More than 170 children participated in the children’s music competition, an ancillary initiative of the fair, from the morning.

Fahmida Farzana Shikder came to the fair with her parents from Mohammadpur.

‘I have bought Chobi Akar Sohoj Poddhoti and Mosto Artist from the fair,’ Farzana said, adding that she would buy some more books.

Khandaker Murad came to the fair with his uncle and watched the Sisimpur show at the children’s corner in the evening. ‘I like colourful books and have already bought Dustu Bagh, Eker Bhitor Sob and Bornomala o Songkha,’ Murad said, adding that he enjoyed the Sisimpur show. His uncle Shafiqul Islam said that the price of books for children was quite high this year. Progoti Publishers public relations officer Rafia Yesmin said that the children’s book publishing house brought eight new publications, including Beni Ashokola, Jadur Biral, Pecha and others for the children up to 12 years old. ‘Many children have visited the fair today and our sale is satisfactory like Friday,’ Rafia said, adding that the house would bring 12 books during the fair. ‘The production cost of books has increased a lot. As a result, the price of books has increased about 10 per cent,’ mentioned Rafia. Children and adolescent visitors were seen exploring comics in the fairground. ‘We have brought Antik Mahmud’s new comic Coin Toss during the fair and it has huge demand among the comic lovers,’ said Dhaka Comics stall attendant Ariyana Alam. Besides, the children enjoyed three shows of Sisimpur at 11:30am, 3:30pm and 6:30pm. According to Bangla Academy, 152 new titles were published on Saturday taking the total number of books published in the fair to 821 so far. A discussion session titled ‘Tribute: Suchitra Mitra’ was held on the main stage on Bangla Academy premises. Sayeem Rana read an essay on singer Suchitra’s life and works while Ahmed Shakeel Hasmi and Anima Roy were present as discussants at the session. The session was presided over by Mofidul Hoque. The fair will open at 3:00pm on Sunday.