Cox’s Bazar Beach

Today, Cox’s Bazar is one of the most-visited tourist destinations in Bangladesh.

Cox’s Bazar sea beach is crowded almost through out the year. It is a good place for sea bathing. Anyone can go there both by air and road from Dhaka and Chittagong.

Cox’s Bazar is a small town. But the natural beauty of the town is very charming. The climate of this place is very fine. The Bay of Bengal lies on the south of it. There is a high standard tourist centre at this place. There are good arrangements for the stay of the tourists of different countries of the world. Many foreigners come to this place. The people of the place are very gentle. A lot of fish is available there.

Ekushey Book Fair

Ekushey Book Fair is now a popular festival in the life of people. It is held only once in a year. Ekushey Book Fair or Amor Ekushey Grontho Mela (“Book Fair of the Immortal 21st"), commonly known as Ekushey Boi Mela (“Book Fair of the 21st"), is the national book fair of Bangladesh. It takes place over the entire month of February every year, and is devoted to the martyrs who died on 21 February 1952 in a demonstration calling for recognition of Bengali as one of the state languages of Pakistan.

Despite the fact that Ekushey Boi Mela began simply as a book fair, it has evolved into a great event, enlightening the spirit of the contemporary Bengali nation.

***


When February comes we feel happy. It has close connection with our glorious past. We can proudly say that we are Bengali. The Bengalis generally are not that much interested in reading books. But the scene of February is quite different. The whole nation waits for this month, especially for the book fair.

All set to begin Amar Ekushey Book Fair

DHAKA, Jan 30 (BSS) - With the Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2010 just one day away, the publishers have almost completed preparations for the month-long annual event beginning on February 1.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the fair at 3:00 pm.

All the publishers are now passing busy time shuttling between the printers' and binders' to get their books ready for the fair.

Noted publishing houses such as University Press Limited, Anyaprakash, Agami, Samay, Mawla Brothers, Bidya Prakash, Anupom, Pathsutro, Oitijjhya, Suchipatra, Sahitya Prakash, Pathak Samabesh, Muktadhara, Dibya Prakash and Sandesh will start releasing their titles from the first day, the owners said.

Mohiuddin Ahmed of the University Press Limited said his publishing house would publish 28 titles in the fair and 20 of them would be on display on the opening day.

The Oitihijhya chief executive, Arifur Rahman Nayeem, said at least 75 titles would be released in the fair from his house and three to four titles will hit the fair on the first day.

Agami Prakashani will bring out about 45 titles, said Osman Gani, owner of the publishing house.

Rabin Ahsan of Shraban said his house would publish 50 titles for the fair.

Saeed Bari of Suchipatra said his house would publish 40 titles this year.

Some publishers said the price of books would go up by five to 10 per cent this year because of the increased prices of paper and other raw materials.

Rajib Noor of Pathsutro, however, said he did not see any significant increase in the price of books as production cost had varied a little compared with what it cost in the past year.

Like the previous years, book lovers and visitors will get 25 percent concession on the price of book published by different publishing houses and organisations and get 30 percent concessions on books published by the Bangla Academy.

"Our preparation is at the final stage. The academy compound is almost ready and the rest of the work would be finished shortly," said Murshid Anwar, deputy director of the coordination and public relations department of the Bangla Academy.

The deputy director said list of new books and other information of the fair will be uploaded on the internet regularly and two news bulletins on book fair will be published daily.

Seminars will be held regularly on the theme 'History of the Language Movement in 1952'.

In the last year there were 436 book stalls at the Ekushey Book Fair and the total sale proceeds were Taka 18 crore.

Poetry collections top the list of 2,741 new books unveiled in the last year's fair, closely followed by novels and essays. Bangla Academy sold books worth Taka 58 lakh in the last year's fair.

Amar Ekushey Book Fair, popularly known as Ekushey Boi Mela, is the most popular book fair in the country, which continues during the whole month of February every year, and is dedicated to the language heroes, who died on February 21 in 1952.

Chittaranjan Saha of Muktodhara Publishing House was the first to set up a stall on the Academy premises on February 21, 1972, to mark the Shaheed Day, which was later announced as International Mother Language Day.

The Bangla Academy took over the fair in 1978 and in 1984 it was named Amar Ekushey Boi Mela, according the Academy sources.

Task force to prevent piracy at Book Fair

Twenty-four books arrived on the second day of the Amor Ekushey Book Fair 2010 yesterday. This year a total of 505 book- stalls are participating in the fair along with a total of 366 organisations.
Shahida Khatun, member secretary of the fair, said that this year they found more enthusiasm among the people compared to last year.
This year the best publisher will be awarded prizes for publishing best books after the name of Chittoranjan Saha who was the pioneer of the book fair, she said adding that a total of 26 Little Magazines were participating in the fair. The number of publications last year was approximately 3,000.
Director General of the Bangla Academy Shamsuzzaman Khan told The Independent that they had made huge security precautions to hold the fair.
About illegal publications and pirates books, he said that the Academy had set up a task force to prevent piracy.
The fair will be open for visitors from 3 pm to 9:00 pm.
On holidays the fair will be open from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm.
On 21 February the fair will be open from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Talking to The Independent, Shahidul Islam Biju, a publisher of the "Pathak Shamabesh," said: "The readers must change their reading habits. They should read more subjective books rather than novels and story books.
Samaresh Devnath, secretary general of the World Poetry Association, said: "From today the fair started getting its real colour. We hope this fair will be successful."
In the afternoon Moinuddin Khaled presented the keynote paper in the discussion meeting on late Kamrul Hasan, Kazol Bandopadhya and Nisar Hossain took part in the discussion presided over by Motiur Rahman, editor of the daily Prothom Alo.

History

Muktodhara Publishing house started a little sell in front of Bangla Academy in the 21st February 1972,[1] the Shaheed Day, later International Mother Language Day. Chittaranjan Saha of Muktodhara took the initiative.[2] Later, other book publishers joined there unofficially. Gradually it became official and the most popular book fair of Bangladesh. Bangla Academy took over organization of the fair in 1978. In 1984 it was named Amar Ekushey Book Fair.[3] Notably, in 1990s, another national book fair called Dhaka Boi Mela was initiated. This book fair is organized by government in December every year



Importance


Although Ekushey Boi Mela started merely as a book fair, it has evolved into a national cultural festival reflecting the cultural spirit of the modern Bengali nation. [1] In addition to book sales, Bangla Academy organizes literary and cultural events everyday. Thousands of people gather everyday not only to purchase books but to spend time in the company of books and their authors with a patriotic zeal. There is no entry fee. Publishers of Bangladesh take year-long preparation to publish a huge number of books during this month. Profit is not the consideration. In 2008, 362 book stalls have been set up by publishers, book sellers and such other organization including Bangla Academy and Nazrul Institute.[4] The venue of the book festival and outside is decorated with banners, festoons and placards in conformity with the spirit of Amar Ekushey. The entire fair venue is free from smoking and polythene. [5] It is the cultural reunion of Bangladesh where nearly every writing-related person comes. Attracted by discounted price (25%), readers rush there. Given the importance, generally head of government inaugurates the book fair on the first day of February. TVs make life broadcast of the inaugural ceremony. 


Structure


Usually, the fair continues from 1 February to the 28th. It is limited only in Bangla Academy's boundary. The Ministry of Culture is in control of the fair while the Academy does the ground work. Usually the Prime Minister (or the Chief Adviser in case of Caretaker government) inaugurates the fair. Between 300 and 400 publishing houses takes part. Only the Bangladeshi booksellers can join who have at least 25 books of their own. There is Nazrul Manch, a corner dedicated to poet Kazi Nazrul Islam; a fixed place for month-long cultural meetings, a Lekhok Kunjo, a dedicated place for writers and, also, a media center for the journalists. Now a days it became harder to accommodate the huge crowd and the increasing number of publishers. In 2008, the theme of daily conference is 'Bengali Literature and Culture - Achievement of three decades'.


Ekushey Boi Mela 2010


Ekushey Boi Mela 2010 was held from 1st to 29 February 2010. As many as 288 publishers participated in the fair. A record number of books were published on the occasion. According to official statistics, the number of books published in connection with the book fair was 2578. The sale proceeds from books sold shot up to a record of Taka 200 million

100,love liric

Malacca Rich in History of Malaysia

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------







1. Tranquerah Mosque

This is a historically important landmark as the tomb of Sultan Hussain of Johor, who gave Singapore to Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819, lies within its grounds. This mosque is also unique in its architecture which reflects both Indian and Chinese influences.

2. Kampung Morten

Names after J.F. Morten, who was the Commissioner of Land in the early 1920s, when the site housed a cluster of wooden houses on stilts. Originally a swamp, it has now been paved overand the village is a tourist attraction as it is a living museum of a traditional Malay village along the Malacca River.




3. Bukit China

The sacred grounds of Bukit Cina are popular with tourists, especially those from China, who come to trace their family members who venture to Malacca. Nice and breezy, this sacred ground is worth a visit and even for a jog, starting from the Sam Poh Kong temple.

4. Kampung Kling Mosque

This is one of the oldest surviving mosques in the country and its architecture is of Sumatran influence. It is still used as a place of worship by the Muslims in Malacca today.

5. The King's Well

Better known as the Hang Lin Po well, it was built by the followers of the Chinese princes who married the reigning Sultan Mansur Shah in the 15th Century, in 1549. It is now a wishing well, although it is said that the well, which was the main source of water for the town, never dries up.

6. St Francis Xavier Church

This church was built by Reverend Favre in 1849 and dedicated to the Saint Francis Xavier who was canonised in 1622 and known as the patron saint of foreign missions of the Catholic Church. It is built over part of the old Portuguese fort ruins.

7. Kampung Hulu Mosque

Said to be the oldest mosque in Malaysia, it was built in 1728 by one Dato Shamsudin. It is one of one of the most visually arresting and unique mosques architecturally, without any discernible parallel or resemblance anywhere else in the country. The roof is multi-tiered and shaped like a pyramid.

8. Malacca Sultanate Palace

This is a reproduction of what the annals deemed as the palace of the ruler of the ancient Sultanate. It currently also houses the Cultural Museum of Malacca on the grounds. Entrance fee is RM1 for adults and 50 sen for children.

9. Tribal Art Gallery

If you are into art, then here is where you can find some primitive art works. Cleverly-designed by the owner, the place is dimly-lit and resembles a tribal shack with strange and menacing-looking objects seemingly lurking in the shadows.

10. Chicken Ball Rice

This is just like Chicken Rice found everywhere except that the rice is made into balls by hands. Famosa Chicken Rice Ball is one of famous outlets here besides Hoe Kee, all in the town centre. It was initially created by the Hainanese in Muar, Johor and expanded to Malacca.

Malaysian Beaches

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








With a coastline running thousands of kilometers, Malaysia has plenty of beautiful beaches, some of which are reputed to be the best in the world. The islands are also home to equally magnificent and pristine beaches with white and gold sands and swaying casuarinas. Accommodation is not a problem as various types of hotels and resorts can be found.

Cherating, Pahang

Located about 50km away from Kuantan, it is a perfect place to unwind and enjoy the sun, sea and beach. It was first popularised by backpackers attracted by its white sandy beach and quaint kampong life of the locals.

Pantai Cenang, Langkawi

Langkawi’s most popular beach, it is located the near the airport and 25km from Kuah town. It has a long stretch of beach and numerous hotels. The scenery is fantastic, especially at sunset and sunrise.

Burau Bay,Langkawi

Located on the west coast of the island, this stretch is known for its peaceful and tranquil environment. The view, notably in the evening, is picturesque.

Tanjung Rhu, Langkawi

It got its name from the many casuarina (rhu) trees found in the area. Located 20km from Kuah, the water is shallow and warm as the beach is sheltered. A favourite spot for photography buffs.

Pantai Kok, Langkawi

It is a little isolated, wherein lies its attraction as there is less crowd. Another plus point is that much of the natural scenery is still preserved, giving it a touch of tranquility. The water is clear and relatively shallow and the white powdery sand makes the beach an ideal place to laze about and do nothing.

Datai Bay, Langkawi

The beach is secluded, making it a perfect getaway for those wanting to escape the city’s hustle and bustle, or those looking forward for some private moments. The area, facing the azure waters of the Andaman Sea, is famous for its luxurious and five-star resorts.

Emeral Bay, Pangkor Laut

A stunning bay with emerald green water, and unspoilt by development. However, this is not a public beach as it is located on the privately-owned Pangkor Laut. The bay has been hailed by many travel writers and columnists as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Port Drt Dickson, Negeri Sembilan

Perhaps the most popular public beach in the country. Better known as PD, it is located less than an hour’s drive from the Klang Valley, which makes it a popular choice among beachgoers and holidaymakers from Kuala Lumpur. Another plus factor is this coastal town has numerous spots of beaches. It can crowded on weekends and public holidays.

Golden Sand, Pangkor

Pantai Puteri Dewi is a superb stretch of beach. The only drawback is that it fronts a five-star hotel, which means no land access except for the quests. Like most beaches in the country, the best time to be here is in the evenings.

Teluk Nipah, Pulau Pangkor

Some attest this is a better choice compared with other beaches on the island. Perhaps, the verdict is arrived due to its clear emerald-green water and tranquility.

Pulau Redang, Terengganu

Like Tioman, this is a popular island holiday destination, with visitors attracted to its fine beaches and underwater world. The island has some of the best diving and snorkeling sites in the country.

Pasir Bogak, Pulau Pangkor

The most popular beach and also the largest on the island, it has been described as the “largest swimming pool in the world”. Large trees provide the shade and idyllic picnic spots. Its clear and shallow water ensure one a splashing good time, especially as various water sports activities are available. The beach is located near Pangkor town, so getting there is a breeze.







Pantai Cahaya Bulan, Kelantan

Formerly known as the Beach of Passionate Love or Pantai Cinta Berahi, this is perhaps Kelantan’s most famous beach. It is a popular and ideal spot for picnics, camping and relaxation. Also a perfect getaway for the world-weary.

Tioman, Pahang

The beaches of Tioman and its surrounding islands need no introduction. Visitors are bound to be mesmerized by the beauty of this tropical paradise. It is considered one of the world’s ten most beautiful islands. Popular spots include those around the villages of Tekek, Genting and Salang. Enjoy its perfect sunset setting.

Teluk Chempedak, Pahang

Another popular beach located near Kuantan, it is popular among the locals. It is a vibrant place due to its numerous eating and entertainment outlets. The beach is lined by casuarina trees but quite rocky at certain spots. A nearby jungle offers a fair share of Malaysia’s flora and fauna.

Batu Ferringhi, Penang

Without doubt, this is the island’s most popular and famous beach, especially among foreign tourists. It has everything to offer-long and wide stretch of sandy beach, scores of resorts and hotels, water sports and eateries offering mouth-watering dishes. This is not to mention its popular night market which operated until midnight.

Pantai Lanjut, Pahang

This stretch of beach is located near Kuala Rompin and is noted for its long and gently-sloping beach. An added attraction is the lush greenery and nature related activities. Experience the joy of a stroll under a moonlit sky.

Pantai Balok, Pahang

Balok is another beach area near Kuantan and a focal point for wind surfers. An ideal place to relax, with swaying casuarinas, a long stretch of while sandy beach and tropical breezes that can lull one into a slumber.

Rantau Abang, Terengganu

Rantau Abang, lacated 60km south of Kuala Terengganu, is synonymous with leatherback turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs. Though this is the main attraction, its beaches are comparable with the popular ones in the country.


Damai Beach, Sarawak

A pristine beach area, with the idyllic view made complete by Gunung Santubung in the background. It is Sarawak’s main beach resort area. For nature lovers, they will find the jungle trails up the mountain challenging.

Morib, Selangor

Located at the south of Selangor, Morib has its own attractions. It is less crowded, hence suitable for those wanting to escape the hordes of people who normally descend onto the popular beaches like Port Dickson. Its greatest appeal is its peaceful atmosphere and tranquility. An interesting activity is to comb the beaches for seashells during low tide.

Karambunai, Sabah

It has a five-star resort, the Nexus Resort Karambunai. The beach front is inviting, especially for relaxation and rejuvenation.