Amar Ekushey Book Fair will be held ‘as scheduled’, says press secretary

He hopes for a book fair that offers books for every kind of reader

Shafiqul Alam, the press secretary to the chief advisor, has said the Amar Ekushey Book Fair will be held “as scheduled”, dismissing rumours about its cancellation.

He made the remarks on Sunday at a meeting on expectations from the book fair, held at the National Press Club and chaired by Saeed Bari, president of the Anti-Discrimination Creative Publishers’ Association.

“The book fair will definitely be held. Due to the situation, coordination may be required," Shafiqul said.

“The Bangla Academy will discuss with the publishers and take a decision through the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

“We want a book fair that offers books for every kind of reader and includes works by all authors. Readers should have the freedom to choose what they want.”

He also alleged that some people had made millions of taka by publishing books in the name of the Sheikh family and “forcibly” selling them during the previous government’s regime.