The Amar Ekushey Boi Mela, which is a month-long book fair organized by Bangla Academy, is scheduled to commence on February 20 this year. Dr. Md Selim Reza, the member secretary of the organizing committee for the 2026 fair, made this announcement during a press briefing held today at Bangla Academy’s Shaheed Munier Chowdhury Auditorium.
In his statement, Dr. Reza emphasized the significance of the fair as a vital component of the country’s cultural heritage. Due to logistical constraints, the fair’s opening date had to be postponed to February 20 instead of the customary February 1 start. He mentioned that stall rents have been reduced by 25% compared to the previous year in response to requests from publishers, and all necessary arrangements for the fair have been finalized.
The government has designated Suhrawardy Udyan as the venue for the fair. Dr. Reza stated that construction of stalls is in progress, and the schedules for discussions and cultural events have been confirmed. Despite space limitations, all 527 institutions that participated last year and 24 new applicants have been allocated stalls.
Dr. Reza also addressed the publishers’ appeal to reschedule the fair after Eid. He pointed out that holding a month-long fair in April would be impractical due to extreme heat, dust, and the risk of storms and rainfall. However, publishers were encouraged to participate despite these challenges.
Mohammad Azam, the Director General of Bangla Academy, assured journalists that arrangements have been made to accommodate Ramadan during the fair. Food stalls for iftar and adequate drinking water facilities will be provided, along with facilities for Tarawih prayers at the venue.
Recently, publishers held a press conference at the National Press Club, advocating for the fair to be postponed until after Eid-ul-Fitr. They also raised three additional demands, stating that the majority of publishers in the country supported the request for rescheduling.
