Curtain falls on Ekushey Book Fair

The month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair ended on Saturday with arrival of the highest number of new titles in past five years and the highest ever sales in the history of the fair.

Bangla Academy officials said books worth Tk 82 crore were sold in the fair and the academy itself sold books worth Tk 2.28 crore.

This year’s total sales were Tk 4.5 crore higher than the previous year, said the academy officials. 

The fairground brimmed with visitors on the last day and all of them were buyers.

State minister for cultural affairs ministry KM Khalid was present as chief guest at the closing ceremony of the fair, presided over by the academy president national professor Anisuzzaman.

Bangla Academy organises the fair commemorating the Language Movement martyrs on February 21, 1952. This year’s fair was dedicated to the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the year is his birth centenary. 

Jalal Ahmed, member secretary of the fair organising committee, said that 4,919 books were launched in the fair and the academy in its review found only 751 books maintained expected quality.

The fair began on February 2 instead of February 1 as elections to two Dhaka City Corporations were held on the day.

Two books written by Diarsi Arag and published by Shristhigarh Publication which were available at the fair faced a High Court ban on February 26 for hurting religious sentiment.  The books were ‘Dia Arefin’ and ‘Dia Arefin er Nanir Bani’.

As many as 4,919 new titles, including 184 on the last day, hit the stalls this year. Books of poems led the tally with 1,585 titles, followed by 731 novels, 644 stories, 271 essays and 203 children’s books.

In 2019, a total 4,834 new titles were launched in the entire fair.

On the concluding day of the fair, there was a huge crowd of children with their parents at the Shishu Chattar.

Sara Warnquist, a researcher at BRAC said, ‘I came from the United States three months ago. I am looking for research books but there is hardly any English book. I bought a research book Neoliberalism Development in Bangladesh: People on the margin from University Press Limited Stall. I really like the place’.

Despite the organisers claimed of a record sale in the fair’s history, a number of publishers said their sales were not satisfactory.

Tarik Sujat, chief executive officer of Journeyman Books, said, ‘This year’s sales were low because of unprofessional and low quality publication. The fair venue was expanded and beautified but there were few books with quality contents.’

He also urged the organisers to invite some foreign writers and publication experts to train up local publishers, editors and proof-readers. The authorities concerned should take necessary steps to get rid of the crisis.  

There were 900 units of stalls for 560 publishing houses and organisations in this year’s fair.

There were 179 units on the Bangla Academy ground to 126 organisatons and 721 on the Suhrawardy Udyan to 434 organisations. There were also 34 pavilions of big publishing houses including Bangla Academy on Suhrawardy Udyan.

Besides, there was also a little magazine corner with 152 small stalls and 6 open space.

Pratyayi Smriti O Ananya by Abul Hasnat published by Journeyman Books was adjudged the best book published in the fair.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net