Why dillydallying over Ekushey Book Fair?

The Amar Ekushey Book Fair is part of our cultural heritage. Among the traditional fairs of independent Bangladesh, the book fair is one of the most significant. In memory of the language martyrs of 1952, the Ekushey Book Fair has been held every February since 1972. For many years the fair was held in the grounds of the Bangla Academy, but with its expansion it has been taking place on a larger scale at the Suhrawardy Udyan since 2014. Writers, publishers and readers across Bangladesh wait for the Ekushey Book Fair throughout the year. During February, it becomes a festival of writers and readers. Hundreds of thousands of readers flock from across the country to this book fair.

But for 2026, many doubts and confusions have arisen over the Ekushey Book Fair. The national election is due in February 2026, followed immediately by Ramadan; as a result, for the past month or so writers and publishers have been uncertain about when, how, and in what form the fair would be held. A couple of weeks ago it was announced that the next book fair would be held from 15 December this year until 15 January next year. Many writers and publishers objected, arguing that it was impossible to organise the fair in such a short time. Moreover, several publishers complained that in taking this decision the government or the Bangla Academy had not sought their opinion. After widespread criticism in the media and on social media, the Bangla Academy backtracked. It announced that the book fair would not be held before the election. However, no decision has yet been made as to when it will be held.

Yesterday, Monday (29 September), newspapers reported that the Bangla Academy had withdrawn its decision to hold the Ekushey Book Fair in December because of the national election. On Sunday, a notice signed by the Academy’s Director General, Professor Mohammad Azam, stated that the fair had been postponed. The notice said the Ministry of Home Affairs had recommended organising the Ekushey Book Fair after the national election. In this context, based on the opinions of the Bangladesh Book Publishers and Sellers Association (BAPUS) and other stakeholders, the fair was postponed. It was also announced that a new date would be set after discussions with publishers and others concerned. 

Now, even after the election, when the fair will be held remains uncertain. Yet there was no need for such delay and confusion over the book fair. By tradition, it should certainly be held throughout February, for it is linked with the spirit of our language movement. If we cannot hold the Ekushey Book Fair in February, then not only will our long-standing tradition fade, but the spirit of Ekushey itself will also be diminished. Have we failed, after all these years, to establish such a democratic environment that we cannot even hold the book fair during an election? Some even fear that next year there may be no book fair at all. If that happens, it will be a shameful chapter in history. At best, perhaps it will be held after the election, but there is doubt about how it will turn out, and it will certainly remain an unpleasant memory for writers, readers and publishers alike. This situation has arisen only because we lack a culture of reading.