This year’s Amar Ekushey Book Fair is unfolding under markedly different circumstances, with a delayed start, a reduced number of participants, a shortened duration, and the observance of Ramadan.
Organisers and stall owners say the fair faces challenges from the outset, departing from its familiar annual rhythm.
Under the theme “Multidimensional Bangladesh”, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman officially inaugurated the fair at 2:00pm on 26 February. Traditionally held throughout February, this year’s event began nearly a month late.
A combination of the 12 February general election, political changes, and Ramadan led to multiple revisions of the schedule. The fair will continue until 15 March, running for a total of 18 days.
Even before the opening, tensions arose among publishers. Following the announcement of the revised schedule, 31 publishing houses initially declared they would not participate, demanding that the fair be held after Eid, that stall rents be waived, and that stalls be constructed at government expense.
After a series of discussions, the authorities granted a full waiver of stall rent, and most publishers agreed to join. Nevertheless, participation has dropped to 549 publishers, compared with 708 last year.
The first few days reflected the disruption. On the opening day, many stalls were still being arranged, and some lacked electricity connections. On the second day, which coincided with the first weekly holiday, a number of stalls remained unprepared, and visitor turnout was lower than usual.
By the third day, 38 new titles had arrived, a music competition drew 347 participants during the children’s hour, and discussion sessions and cultural programmes were held. Despite these efforts, attendance remained below expectations, apparently due to fasting and the intense midday heat.
Frustration among stall owners grew on the fourth day, as visitor numbers remained low, particularly in the afternoon. Compared with weekends, Sunday crowds were notably thinner. However, the presence of students from schools, madrasas, and universities, along with working professionals, offered some reassurance.
Gates at Suhrawardy Udyan and the Bangla Academy opened simultaneously at 2:00pm each day, with visitors trickling in gradually. Even on the fourth day, work continued at many stalls, and bricklaying persisted along several pathways.
At 2:16pm in the Little Magazine Corner, only two of the 84 stalls were open, and soil compaction and ground-leveling work were still underway. By 3:00pm at Bangla Academy, staff were arranging books on literature, history, fiction, non-fiction, and religion, though visitor numbers remained modest.
Many visitors avoid attending during the peak afternoon hours due to Ramadan and the sun’s intensity, but attendance tends to rise after iftar. Organisers remain hopeful that the remaining days will see higher turnout.
The fair is open daily from 2:00pm to 9:00pm, and new books are accepted at the information centre until 4:00pm. Announcements over loudspeakers request visitors to refrain from smoking, and this year the fair has adopted a “zero waste” initiative.
According to publishers and organisers, the first days functioned largely as a preparatory phase.
Despite the delayed start, shortened schedule, and challenges posed by Ramadan, stall owners remain optimistic that student participation and evening crowds will generate momentum, allowing the Amar Ekushey Book Fair to recapture its vibrancy in the remaining days.
