Dhaka: The Amar Ekushey Granthamela-2017 on Tuesday drew a huge number of book lovers as the month-long event has come to an end this evening. 

On the last day of the book fair, visitors of all ages flocked to different stalls and pavilions to buy books of their favorite authors. Many of them were seen returning homes with bags of books while some were taking photographs on mobile-phone or cameras with books.

The stall attendants were seen busy dealing with the visitors and big smiles flashed on the face of the publishers as books of total Taka 65.40 crore were sold in the month long fair.

"A total of 3,646 new books were published in the fair this year while 180 of the them arrived at the book fair today," book fair spokesman Dr Jalal Ahmed said while presenting the book fair report at the closing ceremony at the main stage of the fair this afternoon.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor joined the function as chief guest with Professor Emeritus Rafiqul Islam in the chair.

Cultural Affairs acting secretary Md Ibrahim Hossain Khan and Bangla Academy Director General Professor Shamsuzzaman Khan also joined the function.

"The world's longest (month-long) book fair is going to end this evening. It is matter of pride that we can stage such a long book fair," Noor said.

He said the book fair is not only a fair of selling and buying books rather it is a huge reunion of spirit of Bangalee national entity.

Shamsuzzaman Khan said the entire month-long fair was held peacefully as political stability remained in the country. "Massive security vigilance was taken to avert any untoward incidents during the fair," he said. 

Expatiate Bangalee writers Shamim Azad and Nazmun Nesa Piyari were given "Syed Waliullah Award 2017" for their contribution to promote the practicing of Bengali language and literature in overseas. 

Publishing house Journeyman Books was given "Chittaranjan Saha Memorial Award" for publishing highest well-standard books in 2016.

Apart from Bangla Academy premises, around 400,000 square feet area on Suhrawardy Udyan have been earmarked for the fair.

The Suhrawardy Udyan was decorated with 12 divisions. Some 663 units were allotted to 409 institutions at the academy and on Suhrawardy Udyan premises. 

Besides, 14 publication houses including Bangla Academy got 15 pavilions covering an area of total 6,000 square feet. Some 100 little magazines have been allocated spaces at the Little Magazine Corner, south side of Burdwan House on the academy premises.