Controversy Over pavilion cancellations, stall allocation

The month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025 will start from February 1. Allegations have been raised against the Bangla Academy for irregularities, including the cancellation of 18 pavilions, allocation of over 80 stalls without verification, business rivalry, and autocracy. There are also complaints about unnecessary recess on holidays.

It is reported that the Bangla Academy has allocated stalls to 86 new publishing houses without verification, excluding many regular participants. Some have referred to this year’s fair as the 'Ruhani Darbar Sharif' and 'Islamic Book Fair.'

Meanwhile, although the fair is supposed to run without break from 11 AM to 9 PM on government holidays (Fridays, Saturdays), recess have been scheduled from 1-3 PM on Fridays and 1-2 PM on Saturdays. On social media, especially Facebook, writers and publishers have expressed resentment over these issues.

Publishers and writers have raised allegations about the allocation of stalls to 86 publishing houses that, in the past, did not meet the criteria for participating in the book fair. They particularly criticized the fact that many publishers were labeled as 'allies of fascists' and were denied stalls and pavilions.

Expressing his frustration, Majibur Rahman Khoka, the owner of Bidya Prokash, said, "In the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025, besides regular participants, 86 new institutions have been allocated stalls, which I don’t know. I’ve never even heard of their names. However, it's not difficult to understand what kind of publishers they are!"

He said that although the fair is supposed to run without break from 11 AM to 8-9 PM, this year, breaks have been scheduled from 1-3 PM on Fridays and 1-2 PM on Saturdays.

Expressing his frustration, Khoka asked, "Under whose instruction was this change made? Was it under the ministry’s directive? A decision from the general meeting of the Bangla Academy, or was it at the discretion of the Director General of the Bangla Academy?"

He further questioned, "Did the publisher representatives not notice this? Those who come to the fair in the morning, where will they go during the break? If the fair is supposed to have a two-hour break right after it starts, I would rather demand that, like other days, the fair starts at 3 PM on holidays as well."

Writer Zakir Talukdar has also expressed his frustration over the irregular stall allocations and pavilion cancellations at the book fair.

Commenting on the situation, writer Zakir Talukdar said, “What shall we do with this Bangla Academy? Whenever there’s a chair of power, there’s no shortage of people to praise it. But now, I’m seeing an exception to that.” He added, “There’s no response to posts praising the director general regarding stall and pavilion allocations at the book fair. Because it’s clear to everyone that irregularities have occurred and personal vendettas have been fulfilled.”
Zakir Talukdar further stated, “Stalls have been canceled based on complaints from two or three committee members, without any investigation. Yet, the accused publishers don’t even know what the complaints are. The opportunity to defend themselves has been completely denied.”

Poet-journalist Shimul Salahuddin criticized the situation on Facebook, writing, “From the list of publishers I saw, the book fair is turning into a spiritual shrine. Congratulations, Bengali Muslims.”

Poet Samya Ryan labeled the Bangla Academy as a "broker" and wrote, “If cancelling someone’s stall at Amar Ekushey Book Fair is the price for being a broker, then that stall belongs to the Bangla Academy. No publishing house in this country has ever been such a broker.”

On the other hand, demanding the book fair to be held indoors, the publisher of Bhashachitra Prakashani, Khondkar Sohel, said, “There is a need to consider the rationale for calling for an indoor fair. If we speak to those with experience in this matter, either in the country or abroad, the issue will become clear. We need at least 40 feet by 40 feet space to make our pavilions indoor. Likewise, at least 16 feet by 16 feet space is required to convert the stalls into indoor ones.”

Anwesha Prakashani's pavilion has been canceled for this year’s fair:

The owner of Anwesha Prakashani expressed his frustration on Facebook, writing, “Those whose deliberate efforts and false accusations led to the cancellation of my pavilion at Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025 have caused harm to the Anwesha family (many workers, laborers, and college and university students who work at the pavilion). I pray that Allah does not put your family in such loss.”

Farid Ahmed, the owner of Somoy Prokashani, spoke to Views Bangladesh about the cancellation of pavilions, saying, “The Bangla Academy has not provided any reasons. Several publishers who used to receive pavilions have had them canceled and replaced with smaller units of three or four. There is no specific reason. The publishers who were representatives in the Bangla Academy committee are the ones who got these pavilions.”
Raising allegations of autocracy and business rivalry against the Bangla Academy, Farid Ahmed further stated, “If someone is excluded, their accountability must be ensured. If any complaint is made against someone, there must be a way to prove it, and evidence should be provided. The accused should also be given the opportunity to defend themselves. Those who raise complaints must allow a third party to verify the accuracy of the allegations. But none of this has been done. The ones who made the complaints have taken the decision and demoted 18 individuals.”

When asked about the issue, Dr. Sarkar Amin, the member secretary of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025 management committee, told Views Bangladesh, “A sub-committee formed by the book fair management committee has allocated the stalls. This committee includes cultural personalities and representatives of publishers.”

Regarding the change in timing on holidays, Dr. Sarkar Amin said, “The fair will continue according to the previous schedule.”