After repeated postponements linked to the national election and uncertainty over all publishers’ participation, the Amar Ekushey Book Fair finally opened on Thursday.
Traditionally inaugurated on the first day of February, the month-long fair began this year at the end of the month, coinciding with Ramadan. As a result, visitor numbers on the opening day appeared lower than in previous years.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman formally inaugurated the fair on Thursday afternoon. He was accompanied by his wife, Zubaida Rahman, and their daughter, Zaima Rahman. After the ceremony, he toured several stalls.
The ceremony was presided over by Bangla Academy President Professor Abul Kasem Fazlul Haq.
As in past editions, stalls have been set up across the Bangla Academy premises and Suhrawardy Udyan. However, a visit to the grounds found that many stalls were still not fully prepared, with more than a hundred outlets not ready to receive visitors on the first day.
Some stalls within the Bangla Academy compound had yet to display books, while in parts of Suhrawardy Udyan workers were still arranging shelves, painting structures and completing construction work.
A total of 549 publishing houses are taking part this year – 81 at the Bangla Academy premises and 468 at Suhrawardy Udyan – comprising 1,018 units. Last year, 708 institutions participated with 1,084 units.
Rubayet Hossain, a student of Tamirul Millat Madrasa in Dhaka, visited the book fair for the first time this year.
“As it is my first time, I am very excited,” he told TIMES of Bangladesh. “I have visited almost every stall. Fasting during the day may be difficult for many people, but I came with friends and had a good time.”
However, some sellers said the delayed start of the fair had dampened public interest.
Zahid Hasan, an official at Bongoj Prokashon, which is operating stalls 242 and 243 at Suhrawardy Udyan, said the timing had affected turnout.
“Every year the fair begins on 1 February,” he said. “But this time it has started at the end of the month, and the level of public interest is not the same. We hope more readers will come in the evenings and in the coming days.”
With work still incomplete at many stalls in Suhrawardy Udyan, visitor numbers appeared lower on the first day, and some attendees said the festive atmosphere felt subdued.
Faiyuz Uddin Saran, another visitor, said most stalls on the Bangla Academy side were open, but construction work was continuing at several outlets in Suhrawardy Udyan.
“As it is the first day, the number of visitors is low,” he said.
Bangla Academy, the organiser of the fair, said it will run daily from 2pm to 9pm on working days, and from 11am to 9pm on public holidays.
No new visitors will be allowed to enter the premises after 8:30pm, the organisers added.
The book fair was initially scheduled to open on 20 February, but objections from publishers to holding the event during Ramadan prompted a postponement to 25 February. It was then delayed by a further day, eventually opening on 26 February.
After the new government took office, meetings were held between organisers and publishers to resolve the impasse.
Amid concerns over potential financial losses, stall fees for this year have been fully waived.
Bangla Academy and participating private publishers will sell books at a 25 per cent commission, while government institutions will follow their own prescribed commission rates.
Bangla Academy will operate two dedicated sections for the sale of its own publications.
Organisers say they aim to make the event an environmentally friendly “zero waste book fair”.
The grounds will be polythene-free and smoke-free, with arrangements in place for cleanliness and mosquito control.
Publishers have been encouraged to use recyclable materials such as jute, cloth and paper in stall construction and decoration.
An area dedicated to little magazines, featuring 87 publications, has been set up under the trees beside the open-air stage at Suhrawardy Udyan.
The children’s corner includes 63 organisations across 107 units, with special programmes scheduled every Friday and Saturday from 11am to 1pm.
There are four entry and exit points to the fair – at TSC, Doel Chattar, the MRT batching plant and the Institution of Engineers.
Food stalls have been placed beside the Institution of Engineers, and arrangements have been made within Suhrawardy Udyan for Taraweeh prayers during Ramadan.
This year’s theme is “Multidimensional Bangladesh”. The fair will continue until 15 March.
Organisers said they will assess the feasibility of rebranding the event as the “Amar Ekushey International Book Fair” from next year.
