Will the book fair be held before February due to the elections?

The Amar Ekushey Book Fair, traditionally held in February each year, may be rescheduled to December or January due to the upcoming national parliament election in February. 

The Bangladesh Book Publishers and Sellers Association has formally requested this change in a letter sent last Thursday to the adviser of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, with a copy obtained by Daily Samakal.

The association proposed three potential timeframes for the fair: December 15 to January 15, January 1 to January 31, or January 5 to February 5. 

The primary reason for this request is the anticipated strain on law enforcement agencies, which will be focused on election security and unable to provide adequate attention to the book fair’s safety needs in February. 

All relevant stakeholders have reportedly agreed to hold the fair before February to avoid these challenges.

Publishers argue that holding the fair after February would diminish its appeal and vibrancy. 

They also note that post-February weather conditions are unsuitable for the event, and the political climate surrounding the elections could create further uncertainties. 

Abul Bashar Firoz Sheikh, director of the association’s central executive committee and convener of the book fair standing committee, emphasised that the fair would lose its festive atmosphere if held after February, making December or January the most suitable period. 

He confirmed that the association has submitted this proposal in writing to the fair authorities.

Additionally, Dipankar Das, head of Batighar’s book marketing center and publishing company, suggested shortening the fair’s duration to 15 days instead of the usual month-long event. 

He argued that a shorter fair would reduce costs for publishers and save resources for the state and organisers, noting that month-long book fairs are uncommon globally.

The letter from the Publishers Association highlighted past disruptions, such as the fair’s cancellation in 1983 due to a political movement during military ruler Ershad’s regime. 

More recently, the fair was held in March from 2021 to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which publishers claim led to a decline in quality, business losses, and an ongoing recovery struggle. 

The association warned that the book fair has been losing its tradition and commercial success from 2021 to 2025, pushing creative publishers toward financial distress.

Publishers also expressed concerns that holding the fair in March would coincide with Eid, reducing readership in Dhaka. 

By April, the onset of storms and rain would further disrupt the event’s atmosphere, rendering a post-February fair impractical.

Bangla Academy Director General Professor Mohammad Azam confirmed that a preliminary decision has been made to hold the fair before February, citing concerns about security and public participation during the election period, as well as weather-related challenges in April. 

He noted that the Ministry of Culture has given initial approval for the proposed change. 

A final decision, following discussions with all stakeholders, is expected to be announced within the next week.