Publishers split over Amar Ekushey Book Fair timing as Bangla Academy sticks to Feb 20 start

BAPUS claims many Publishers’ Unity members have signed up for book fair stalls

The Bangla Academy’s decision to launch the Amar Ekushey Book Fair on Feb 20 has exposed divisions among publishers, with one group backing the schedule and another pushing for a postponement until after Eid-ul-Fitr.

The Bangladesh Publishers and Booksellers Association (BAPUS) described the timing as “appropriate”, saying the date was finalised after considering all relevant factors.

It also called for a full waiver of stall and pavilion rents in view of the current social and business climate.

A separate platform, Publishers’ Unity, representing more than 300 publishers, has sought the “intervention” of incoming prime minister Tarique Rahman to defer the fair and organise a “full-fledged and vibrant” event after Eid.

Bangla Academy said preparations for inaugurating the fair on Feb 20 are already 90 percent complete.

Officials from the fair committee said around 400 publishing houses have already paid stall fees to participate, while the participation process of several others is ongoing.

So far, 515 units of stalls have been allocated.

What BAPUS And Publishers’ Unity Say

Several members of the BAPUS book fair committee told bdnews24.com that publisher leaders were present at the meeting where Feb 20 was finalised as the opening date for the fair.

“Construction of stalls had already progressed significantly when this platform called Publishers’ Unity began demanding that the fair be postponed,” they said.

A member secretary of the book fair management committee told bdnews24.com, “This is essentially an internal dispute among publishers, which they have dragged into the book fair.”

In a letter on Saturday, Publishers’ Unity sought the “intervention” of Tarique to postpone the fair.

On Sunday, BAPUS issued a statement outlining its position, saying that if the fair were to begin after Eid holidays, it would have to start in the last week of April.

“That would mean the fair would continue until the last week of May. Is this truly the appropriate timing for the Amar Ekushey Book Fair? Can a post-Pohela Boishakh fair still be called ‘Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026’?” the statement said.

Criticising Publishers’ Unity’s stance, BAPUS said more than 150 publishers in the platform are not members of the association, over 70 did not participate in the last book fair, and some have never taken part in the fair before.

Several publishers listed under the platform have already deposited money with the Bangla Academy to participate in the Feb 20 book fair, BAPUS added.