DHAKA, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh's largest month-long annual book fair kicked off here on Thursday.

The Amar Ekushey Boi Mela, which literally means "Immortal Twenty First Book Fair," is being held in Dhaka's Bangla Academy premises and its adjacent Suhrawardy Udyan (garden) in commemoration of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for protecting the dignity of the mother tongue on Feb. 21, 1952.

Feb. 21 is now being observed throughout the world as the "International Mother Language Day."

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the month-long book Thursday.

Bangla Academy will organize a two-day International Literature Conference on Feb. 22 and 23 for a good bonding among the local and foreign writers.

Bangla Academy Director General Shamsuzzaman Khan said police have tightened security in and around Bangla Academy premises to ensure security of book lovers and publishers at the fair.

He said a total of 719 stalls have been allocated to 363 organizations this year.

Around 4,000 new books are published every year during the book fair.