Ekushey Book Fair kick-off deferred to 25 Feb, govt waives stall rents
The annual fair will continue till 15 March
The Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 is now set to commence on 25 February, five days later than the previously announced date of 20 February.
The fair will continue until 15 March, with the government announcing a complete waiver of stall rents for all participating publishing houses to support the industry, reports Prothom Alo.
The decision was finalised during a views-exchange meeting held at the Shaheed Munir Chowdhury conference room of Bangla Academy yesterday evening (19 February).
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Chaired by Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, the meeting was attended by State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmood Khyom, Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Md Mofidur Rahman, and representatives of the publishers.
According to the report, Bangla Academy Director General Professor Mohammad Azam briefed the meeting on the current status and preparations for the upcoming fair. In response to demands raised by various sections of the publishing community, the authorities agreed to delay the inauguration and waive stall fees entirely.
The rescheduling follows persistent calls from a section of publishers who cited the upcoming holy month of Ramadan as a significant hurdle. Some had previously announced they would be unable to participate unless the fair was held after Eid, and had even sought the intervention of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to resolve the crisis.
Publishers who have not yet secured a stall have been directed to submit their applications by 3pm today (19 February). The formal allocation of these stalls will be conducted at 6pm the same evening.
The fair usually begins on 1 February, but the change was brought about this year due to the realities of the 13th parliamentary election and the holy month of Ramadan.
