Online Desk:  The 23rd edition of ‘Baishakhi Mela & Curry Festival’ with participation of around 10, 000 Bangladeshis living in Japan was held at Ikebukuro Nishiguchi Park in Japan’s Toshima city on Sunday.

A book tilted ‘Father of the Nation Bangabandhu’ on the struggling life of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman written in Japanese Manga form drew huge attention in the fair.

NRB Scholars Publishers Limited from Bangladesh participated in the fair with the book this year.

M E Chowdhury Shamim, author and publisher of the book and founder of Centre for NRB Foundation, was present at the fair.

He said Bengali, English and Japanese versions of the book, which won bronze prizes in the 17th International Manga Awards in Japan, were sold at the stalls.

However, a large number of Japanese bought the book written in Japanese Manga form to know the role of Bangabandhu in the Liberation War of Bangladesh, the author said.

Besides, expatriate Bangladeshis collected the book for their second generation living in Japan, he said.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan Shahabuddin Ahmed distributed the book among Bangladeshi children at free of cost.

The book was unveiled in the form of Japanese ‘Manga’ on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh-Japan friendship on April 5 last year.

Later, the book was handed over to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo during Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Japan on April 28.