The month-long Ekushey Book Fair 2020 has been deferred by a day as the Election Commission shifted the date of Dhaka North and South city corporation elections to February 1.

The country’s largest book fair will now begin on February 2, said Habibullah Siraji, director general of Bangla Academy.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the book fair, he added.

Seminars will be held at the main stage of the fair venue at 4:00 pm every day from February 2 to 28 followed by cultural events.

Like the previous years, the venue of the fair was extended to nearby Suhrawardy Udyan with huge changes.

The EC last night shifted the Dhaka city corporation polls date to February 1 in the face of mounting pressure from various quarters as the previous date, January 30, coincided with Saraswati Puja.

The decision came at an emergency meeting held at its office in the capital.