Ekushey Book Fair: Visually impaired readers urge braille editions of new books
At the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, visually impaired readers rely on a single Braille publisher, highlighting limited access to contemporary literature and the need for wider Braille conversion initiatives.
At a corner of Amar Ekushey Book Fair at the Suhrawardy Udyan of the capital, college student Rafi stands quietly, reading a book with the tips of his fingers. Though he cannot see, his love for literature is immense. A note of frustration emerged from his voice, "We cannot read many of the new books; that's why we have to rely on just one braille publisher."
For visually impaired readers like Rafi, the fair has only one destination – Sparsha Braille Publication, operated by Sparsha Foundation.
Irene Sultana, a member of the foundation, told The Business Standard that visually impaired readers are often viewed as a "marginalised community." "Instead of labelling us that way, people should think of us as fellow citizens," she said, adding that if other publishers convert their books into Braille, prices will decrease and access will improve.
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Hundreds of new books are released at the fair each day – poetry, novels, essays and research works fill the colourful stalls. But only a tiny fraction is available in Braille. As a result, visually impaired readers are often left out of the literary conversations.
Braille, developed in the 19th century by Louis Braille, remains the foundation of education for the visually impaired. Yet in Bangladesh, most publishing houses have no plan to convert their books into Braille, readers allege.
Rishad Hasan, another Braille reader, says access should go beyond textbooks. "We need contemporary literature too – new poetry books, popular novels. If those were available in Braille, we could join the discussions."
In today's digital era, converting soft copies into Braille is easier than before. Still, lack of initiative remains the main barrier.
Citing high production costs, some publishers said printing in Braille requires special paper, embossing technology and larger volumes. A standard 200-page book often needs to be divided into multiple parts.
Sajjad, a sales representative at Granthik Prokashon, says while Braille editions would be welcome, profit margins in the book business are already slim.
Those involved with the Braille method suggest a solution: establishing a central Braille conversion cell, supported by government and private initiatives, where publishers can submit digital files for affordable Braille production.
