Dhaka: The month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair ended on Monday, witnessing a total sale of around Tk 42 crore and some 3,444 new books published.

A closing ceremony was held on the main stage of Bangla Academy in the evening where Bangla Academy Director General Shamsuzzaman Khan delivered the speech of greetings.

Presided over by Emeritus Professor Anisuzzaman, the programme was attended, among others, by Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor.

A one-minute silence was observed in memory of writer Avijit Roy who was killed last year after he along with his wife stepped out of the book fair.

On the other hand, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu visited the book fair on the last day when he unveiled the covers of several new books.

The number of new books was lesser that of last year as some 3,700 new books hit the book fair last year.

This year, some 401 publication houses participated in the fair in a total of 649 stalls and 15 pavilions.

There were 939 new books on poem while 529 novels, 503 books on story,162 books for children, 45 books on research, 53 books on science, 15 books on politics, 18 religious, 45 books on science fictions and 101 books on Liberation War this year.

The stalls of four publications were closed for various allegations, including hurting religious sentiments and breaching discipline.

On 22 February, there was a mysterious fire at the stall of 'Platform' while heavy rain wrecked havoc on the book fair on 24 February, damaging many books.