The 44^th International Kolkata Book Fair began on Tuesday at Salt Lake Central Park in Kolkata amid festivity.

Kolkata Deputy High Commission and Cultural Affairs Ministry of Bangladesh are organising the fair with the theme country ‘Russia’.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the fair as the chief guest while Deputy Head of the Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation Vladimir Grigoriev was present there as the special guest, among others.

Eminent Russian and Bengali writers were present on the occasion.

At least 20 countries are participating in this year’s book fair and 600 bookstalls are set-up on the fair premises.

First Secretary (commercial) of Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh Md. Shamsul Arif said a seminar titled ”Bangabandhu’s birth centenary and implementing the dream of Sonar Bangla’ on Bangladesh Day will be organised on the last day of the fair.

A number of noted authors from across the globe including Bangladesh, Russia, Costa Rica, Spain, Scotland, Australia, Guatemala and Argentina are expected to participate in the event.