International seminar participants in Bangladesh call for publisher-reader forum in South Asia

Participants in a two-day international publishers' seminar have called for building of a publisher-friendly environment where literature of the South Asia region can thrive.

The seminar hosted four sessions on Saturday that discussed the prospects and challenges facing publishers in Bangladesh and abroad.

The participants called for a South Asia publisher-reader forum for greater reach of books published in the region.

Moderating over a session, bdnews24.com Arts and Senior Editor poet Muhammad Nurul Huda said, "While there is a demand for transnational literature at the international level, various policy guided dos and donts limit publishers' freedom."

Nepal's National Book Publisher's General Secretary LP Pandey said, "South Asian countries are falling short of delivering the books published in one country to others", while calling for a SAARC-based publisher-reader forum.

Litterateur Selina Hossain suggested the creation of "a translation cell at the government level".

Indian poet Mondira Sen said while addressing a session devoted to women and publishing, "Despite women making a significant contribution to publishing, their role has never been acknowledged at the mainstream level."

West Bengal poet Imanul Hoque said piracy was a major issue hindering the spread of Bengali literature.

Speaking at the concluding session in the evening, Information state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak said that, in the age of global networking, detachment was impossible and added that Bangladeshi publishers were linked to their foreign counterparts.

He urged publishers of the country to build a database of all literature published in Bangladesh and pledged the support of the ICT wing.

Sri Lankan publisher Dinesh Kalatunga said that South Asian women publishers had entered the fray braving many odds and were creating a trail blazing impact with their talent and abilities.