More visitors, fewer buyers at book fair

As a holiday, Friday saw a massive turnout at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, with visitors crowding the venue in large numbers. On Saturday (February 8), the eighth day of the fair, the number of visitors was slightly lower in the afternoon compared to the previous day but increased significantly in the evening. Many families, including children and teenagers, were seen enjoying the fair. However, despite the high number of visitors, book sales remained relatively low.

Saturday also marked the second day of Valentine's Week—Propose Day. The festive atmosphere was evident at the fair, with young women wearing beautifully designed sarees, floral hair decorations, and glass bangles, while young men sported colorful panjabis. Many were seen carrying bouquets, particularly white roses, which were notably popular.

Apart from the festive atmosphere, various events, including seminars, cultural programs, and "Lekhok Bolchhi" (Writers' Talk), kept the fair vibrant with visitors.

Although the Children’s Hour was canceled due to Dhaka University admission tests, many families still visited the children’s corner at the fair.

Md. Yusuf, an official at the Bangla Academy stall, mentioned that although the fair was crowded, book sales were moderate, with essay collections and children's books in higher demand. However, he admitted that the number of buyers was low compared to visitors.

Johnny, in charge of the Bengal Publishers stall, echoed the same sentiment: "There are a lot of visitors, but not many buyers. People are looking at books, but actual purchases are low."

Writer and translator Kamrul Hasan expressed disappointment over the situation:
"The crowd makes it seem like the fair is thriving, but it's unfortunate that most visitors are not carrying books. Even among those at the stalls, few are actually reading books, and sales do not seem very high."

Explaining the reason behind the decline in book sales, he added: "Our cultural habits have deteriorated in many ways. Reading books is linked to intellectual history, cultural awareness, and education standards. There are several limitations in these areas, which have led to a decline in readership."

He believes that efforts are needed at the state, social, and family levels to restore the reading habit.

Poet Shahed Kayes provided a different perspective, saying,
"Globally, interest in books is declining. Many people come to the fair to spend time with loved ones, chat, and enjoy the ambiance. However, over time, such visits might develop into a love for books."

Visitors, however, avoided making any direct comments on this issue.

Cultural Programs and Events

Like Friday, the Bangla Academy organized a children's music competition on Saturday. The preliminary round was held at 9:00 AM in the Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad Auditorium of the academy. A total of 139 contestants participated, including 34 in category "Ka", 66 in category "Kha", and 39 in category "Ga".

Discussion Session

At 4:00 PM, a discussion titled “Ekjon Mohammad Harun-Ur-Rashid” was held at the main stage of the book fair. The keynote speech was presented by Rafiq-Um-Munir Chowdhury, while the session was chaired by Khaliquzzaman Elias. Discussants included Abdus Selim and Mohammad Harun-Ur-Rashid.

In his keynote, Rafiq-Um-Munir Chowdhury described Mohammad Harun-Ur-Rashid as a teacher, scholar, administrator, poet, writer, translator, and Sufi thinker. He highlighted Harun-Ur-Rashid's contributions to language, society, and education through insightful essays and engaging travelogues, along with his significant work in translation. He noted that Harun-Ur-Rashid's writings were distinguished by clarity and humor, making them timeless and relevant even today.

The discussants emphasized that Harun-Ur-Rashid was a principled, fearless, and intellectual figure, known for his deep knowledge of Sufism and Sufi literature. They also praised his work as a translator, cultural critic, and literary analyst, describing him as a sensitive, independent-minded, and inspirational figure.

In his concluding remarks, Khaliquzzaman Elias highlighted Harun-Ur-Rashid’s advocacy for using Bengali as the medium of higher education, calling him a rare multi-talented personality.

Additionally, at the “Lekhok Bolchhi” (Writers' Talk) stage, poet and essayist Majid Mahmud and poet Jabbar Al Naim discussed their new books.

Cultural Performances

Poetry recitations by poets Farid Said and Pradeep Mitra. Recitation performances by Kamal Mina and Farhana Parveen Haq Trina. Dance performance by Udbhas Nrityakala Academy, directed by Arifuzzaman Chayon. Music performances by Farah Diba Khan Labonno, Sushmita Debnath Suchi, Bijon Chandra Mistri, Gargi Ghosh, Sharly Martha Rosario, and Md. Rezwanul Haque.

Instrumental support

Chandan Dutta (tabla), Shyama Prasad Majumdar (keyboard), Sheikh Abu Zafar (flute), Deepankar Roy (octopad).

Upcoming Events

On Sunday, February 9, the ninth day of the book fair, the fair will be open from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM. At 4:00 PM, a discussion on "Remembering Makid Haider" will take place at the main stage. Keynote speaker: Chanchal Ashraf Discussants: Asif Haider and Saikat Habib, Chairperson: Atahar Khan.

New Book Releases

A total of 102 new books were released on Saturday, including: 29 poetry books, 19 novels, 16 short story collections, 6 essay books, 4 religious books, 3 biographies and books on the Liberation War, 2 books each on politics, rhymes, and travel,  1 book each on science, science fiction, translation, and history. 15 books in other categories.