Ekushey Book Fair now on Feb 26, pushed a day after BDR mutiny anniversary

The prime minister is set to inaugurate the fair a day after the anniversary of the BDR mutiny

The Amar Ekushey Book Fair has been re-scheduled to begin on Feb 26, a day later than previously announced, and continue until Mar 15.

On Sunday, Selim Reza, member secretary of the fair’s organising committee, told bdnews24.com that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate the fair at 2pm on Thursday, Feb 26.

A Bangla Academy official said the date was shifted because Feb 25 marks the anniversary of the BDR mutiny, and the prime minister will therefore open the fair a day later.

In a media statement issued on Sunday night, Bangla Academy, the organiser of the event, said there will be no pavilions at this year’s fair.

Earlier, on Saturday, Publishers’ Unity, a platform representing more than 300 publishing houses, said in a statement that it would not be possible for them to participate in the fair due to a “lack of transparency in the allocation of stalls and pavilions, as well as severe time constraints”.

As no resolution had been reached on the issue by Sunday evening, Publishers’ Unity has called a press conference at the National Press Club on Monday morning.