Publishers reject decision to hold book fair on Feb 20

A section of publishers has announced that they will not accept the decision to hold the Amar Ekushey Book Fair from February 20 this year.

In a statement sent to the media on Thursday under the title “A ‘Lifeless’ Book Fair Organized Through a ‘Unilateral’ Decision of Bangla Academy: The Publishing Community Will Not Accept a ‘Humanitarian and Commercial Disaster’ Under the Pretext of Natural Calamities,” the publishers made the announcement.
The statement said that the Bangla Academy authorities had unilaterally declared the organization of Ekushey Book Fair 2026 from 20 February, ignoring the vital demands and existential concerns of hundreds of publishers. Creative publishers expressed deep surprise and extreme disappointment at the decision, describing it as self-destructive, undemocratic, and detached from reality.

Referring to the Bangla Academy’s justification of storms, rain, and heat, the statement said, “They have forgotten that the certain humanitarian and commercial disaster visible before our eyes is far more frightening than any natural calamity.”

The publishers reiterated several concerns. They said that if the book fair begins during the month of Ramadan, readers and visitors will not come. Without readers and buyers, the book fair will turn into nothing more than a lifeless government formality. They also highlighted the humanitarian concerns of stall workers and the risk of serious financial losses.

The publishers questioned: although the Bangla Academy is the organizer of the fair, its soul lies with the publishers and readers. If publishers are not prepared and readers cannot attend, then for whom is the fair being organized?

The statement noted that publishers from 32 pavilions and 152 stalls have already given written consent in favor of holding the fair after Eid instead of starting on 20 February. It warned that organizing the fair by excluding such a large segment would make it one of the most failed and disgraced events in history.

The publishers urged the government at the highest level and the Bangla Academy authorities to reconsider the decision and arrange the book fair in a festive atmosphere after the holy Eid-ul-Fitr.

The signatories to the statement are: Mesbah Uddin Ahmed (Ahmed Publishing House), A K Nasir Ahmed (Kakoli), Mazharul Islam (Anyaprokash), Monirul Haque (Anannya), Syed Zakir Hossain (Adorn), Zahir Dipti (Iti Prokashon), Mahrukh Mohiuddin (UPL), Mahbub Rahman (Adarsha), Mobarak Hossain (Manuscript Coordinator, Prothoma Prokashon), Iqbal Hossain Sanu (Laboni), Mizanur Rahman (Shobha Prokash), and Iftekhar Amin (Shobdoshoily).