Book exchange festival draws thousands of readers in Ctg
Thousands of book lovers began gathering at the venue from the morning, carrying previously read books to swap for unread titles. A total of 11 stalls have been set up, and organisers expect more than 30,000 books to be exchanged during the festival.
The 7th edition of the Book Exchange Festival began this morning (9 January) at Jamal Khan Road in Chattogram, drawing a large turnout of readers eager to exchange old books for new ones.
The daylong festival, scheduled to continue until 7pm, is being organised by the social organisation Failed Camera Stories with support from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. The Business Standard is serving as the media partner.
Ekushey Padak-winning novelist Harishankar Jaladas inaugurated the event as chief guest. The Business Standard Chattogram Bureau Chief Shamsuddin Illius and City Bank Vice President Al Jobayed attended as special guests, while the opening session was moderated by Saeed Khan Shagor.
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Thousands of book lovers began gathering at the venue from the morning, carrying previously read books to swap for unread titles. A total of 11 stalls have been set up, and organisers expect more than 30,000 books to be exchanged during the festival.
Unlike traditional book fairs centred on sales, the Chattogram Book Exchange Festival is built around the idea of sharing knowledge through exchange. Participants trade their own books, creating a community-driven space for readers rather than a commercial marketplace.
Organised under the initiative "Not just books, but an exchange of knowledge," the festival has grown steadily since its launch in 2021. It was first conceived during the Covid-19 pandemic, when restrictions and uncertainty threatened large cultural events, including the Ekushey Book Fair.
Film activist and book enthusiast Saeed Khan Shagor, along with Mahir Azraf and Ankan Dey Animesh, started the first edition with just 600 books collected from acquaintances. That effort resulted in the exchange of more than 9,000 books in a single day.
The festival has expanded rapidly since then. More than 20,000 books were exchanged in 2022, prompting organisers to introduce a Winter Book Exchange Festival the same year, which saw over 30,000 exchanges. The fifth edition, held at Jamal Khan, recorded the exchange of more than 50,000 books in one day.
Organisers say the consistently high turnout reflects a growing enthusiasm for reading and collective cultural activities in Chattogram, with the book exchange festival now firmly established as a major literary event in the city.
