Ekushey Book Fair opens, publishers look forward to weekend rush

The Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 has officially opened its doors at the Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan premises, with publishers expecting a massive turnout on Friday, the first weekend of the event.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the month-long fair on Thursday afternoon, and later toured the stalls accompanied by his wife Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman.

The first day was marked by the typical last-minute hustle, with many of the 549 participating publication houses still putting the finishing touches on their stalls.

Despite the sound of hammers and the scent of fresh paint lingering in the air, stall owners expressed satisfaction with the initial gathering.

"The first day is always about preparation. We expect the fair to gain full momentum from Friday," said Kamal Mustafa, owner of the children's publishing house Dolon.

This year’s theme is Bohumatrik Bangladesh (Multidimensional Bangladesh).

A total of 1,018 units have been allocated, a slight decrease from last year’s 1,084.

The fair features 81 stalls within the Bangla Academy compound and 468 in the Suhrawardy Udyan section.

Special arrangements, including Taraweeh prayer facilities at the Suhrawardy Udyan for the month of Ramadan, have been integrated into the fair's layout.

This year, however, the authorities initially planned to hold it in December citing the national elections and Ramadan.

The schedule was later revised twice before settling on Feb 26.

On the opening day of the fair, the prime minister handed out the Bangla Academy Literary Award to several recipients, including Nasima Anis for fiction, Syed Azizul Haque for essay, and Hasan Hafiz for children’s literature.

However, the award for poet Mohon Raihan was abruptly suspended.

"The award has been temporarily withheld due to certain allegations. A final decision will be made after an investigation," said Prof Mohammad Azam, director general of Bangla Academy.

On Fridays and Saturdays, the fair will open at 11am and run until 9pm, featuring a “Shishu Prahar” (Children's Hour) from 11am to 1pm.

On weekdays, the gates will open at 2pm.

The fair is scheduled to continue until Mar 15. All participating institutions are offering a 25 percent commission on books.