Even as evening falls over the open lawns of Suhrawardy Udyan, the stalls of Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 are far from crowded.
A few readers stroll between the rows, holding one or two books in their hands, occasionally stopping to discuss what’s new or which book to pick. On the eighth day of the fair, the energy is still gentle, a quiet contrast to the bustling opening days.
The first week of the fair, coinciding with Ramadan, saw lower attendance than usual. Now, however, more readers are returning, and publishers are optimistic.
With today marking the second Friday of the fair, a weekly holiday, they expect the crowds to surge. Special children’s hours and cultural events planned for the day are likely to draw families, though many anticipate that the final Friday before Eid could see lighter footfall as visitors head home.
On Thursday, the grounds were relatively calm during daylight hours, but by late afternoon, small groups of students, young professionals, and families began trickling in.
Some popular publishers such as Batisar, Prothoma, Onnoprokash, and Kothaprokash saw a modest crowd around their stalls. Yet overall, the fair has yet to reach its full festive rhythm.
“I’ve been coming to the book fair since childhood,” says university student Milon Biswas. “Early on, attendance was low because of the adjusted schedule, but now the atmosphere is gradually picking up. There’s something satisfying about finding the books you want without the crush of crowds.”
For some, the quieter crowds have an unexpected benefit. “Visitors can browse at ease and actually find the books they’re looking for,” Milon adds, “which in a way feels like a little victory.”
Mohammad Azam, director general of Bangla Academy, told TIMES, “Weekends usually draw the largest crowds. Many visitors came last Friday, and we hope tomorrow those who were unable to attend due to other commitments will make it. They will buy the books they love and make the fair even more lively.”
Despite initial uncertainties and controversies — complaints over the Ramadan schedule, demands for stall rent waivers — the fair is now settling into its rhythm. Publishers report that visitor numbers are steadily increasing.
“The fair started with concerns over attendance due to Ramadan,” says Sakib Ahmed of Chhoto Der Gyan Biggan Academy. “But over the past few days, more people have come. Even this evening, we made some sales. Tomorrow, a holiday, we expect a surge in visitors and the highest sales of the week.”
New arrivals continue to keep readers engaged. The fair’s information centre received 92 new titles Thursday, covering novels, poetry, children’s literature, comics, and historical works. Interest is particularly high in fiction and heritage-based publications.
Cultural and literary programming has also begun to enliven the fair. On Thursday at 3pm, the main stage hosted a discussion titled “Centenary: Sukanta Bhattacharya”, with Sumon Sajjad presenting a paper, contributions from Ahmed Maula, and chaired by Abdul Hai Shikdar.
Tomorrow, the fair opens at 11am and runs until 9pm. Children’s hours will feature prominently, and at 3pm the main stage will host a discussion on “Centenary: Qalim Sharafi”, with Anima Ray presenting a paper, Syem Rana joining the discussion, and chaired by Sadhan Ghosh. Cultural performances will follow at 4pm.
