What fate awaits this year’s book fair?

Though the roadmap for the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 began with a clear intent to avoid logistical hurdles, it has since spiralled into a prolonged period of uncertainty.

On 18 September, Bangla Academy announced that the fair would run from 17 December 2025 to 17 January 2026. The rationale was to conclude the event before the upcoming national elections and the holy month of Ramadan. 

However, barely 10 days later, the academy issued a second press release postponing the fair, stating that it would be organised after the election.

For the next three months, no concrete decision on the dates was communicated. That silence finally broke on 17 December with an announcement that confirmed the industry's worst fears: the fair would indeed be held after the election, but entirely within the Ramadan period. 

The Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 is now scheduled to begin on 20 February, the third day of Ramadan, and run until 15 March.

This prolonged indecision and uncertainty have severely affected the publishing industry, particularly houses that rely heavily on book fair sales. Some publishers say they will release less than half the number of titles they had originally planned to; others are hoping for some form of government compensation, while many are bracing for poor sales due to Ramadan, even as they continue to hope for a rescheduling after Eid.

Sales figures from recent years already indicate volatility. According to Bangla Academy, total sales stood at Tk47 crore in 2023 before rebounding to Tk60 crore in 2024. At the most recent fair, however, sales dropped to around Tk40 crore. With the 2026 edition set against the backdrop of Ramadan and Eid preparations, the outlook is widely expected to be bleak.

Mahabub Rahman, publisher of Adarsha Prokashoni, admits that his team is scrambling to adjust. The combination of political unrest, election-related uncertainty, and repeated schedule changes has left them ill-prepared for a February start.

"Last year we published over 60 books; this year we will likely manage around 30," Mahabub said. "Neither writers nor publishers are ready. Since the fair will take place during Ramadan, sales will inevitably be low. It is going to be a great loss for our publication."

While preparing for the 20 February opening, Mahabub says they are also exploring ways to mitigate losses. "We will ask for reduced stall rent as compensation," he added. "But we are still hoping the fair might be rescheduled to after Eid, which is what most publishers actually want."

The same frustration was echoed by Mohammad Nazimuddin, publisher of Baatighar Prokashoni and a pioneer of Bangla thrillers. For him, the government's handling of the schedule reflects a lack of concern for the industry. He had expected the fair to be held either in December or after Eid — not abruptly scheduled for February, in the middle of Ramadan.

"It seems the authorities simply do not want to listen to us," Nazimuddin said, predicting a subdued fair. His planned number of new titles has been slashed by two-thirds: only 10 books this year, compared to 30 last year.

Nazimuddin stressed that publishers are not seeking financial handouts, but meaningful participation in decision-making. 

"We do not want compensation; we wanted them to listen to our demand for rescheduling. We submitted multiple applications signed by publishers, but they were ignored," he said.

His criticism extends to the interim government's broader approach. "Since we do not belong to any so-called 'pressure group' that the interim government feels compelled to listen to, we were not taken into account," Nazimuddin observed. 

"Indecisiveness and a lack of firm decision-making — this is the government's core problem, and it has affected us tremendously. Once they sit in those chairs, they forget the people and fail to understand public sentiment."

A similar outlook was expressed by Monirul Haque, publisher of Anannya Prokashoni. "Last year, we brought around 130 new books to the fair. This year, I am not even sure we will be able to bring 30," he said.

Asked about the sharp decline, Monirul explained that the publishing business has been under strain for the past one and a half years. "After 5 August, when the new government was formed, we did feel a sense of hope. But instead of improving, the situation has worsened," he said.

Traditionally, the Ekushey Book Fair begins on 1 February. However, following the announcement of the national election schedule, it has now been pushed back to 20 February.

"About 90% of the population in this country is Muslim. Many people will be fasting throughout the day, and they may not want to visit the fair in the afternoon or even after iftar — which is usually the ideal time to attend," Monirul noted. "On top of that, I am still uncertain whether the fair will even start on time."

He added that publishers had proposed alternative arrangements. "We wanted the fair to be held in December or January. Even a shorter fair — seven or 15 days — would have been more practical under the circumstances."

Taken together, Monirul believes this year's Ekushey Book Fair is clouded by uncertainty. Publishers typically make substantial upfront investments for this single annual event. Reflecting on the potential financial fallout, he said, "My personal assessment is that we will make no profit. We may not even recover our costs. Book sales will be very low."

To offset the losses, Anannya Prokashoni plans to organise regional book fairs across the country and strengthen online sales after Eid.

Monirul remains cautiously optimistic that the return of a fully political government could help restore momentum in the publishing sector. "If stability returns, the industry will benefit — and so will writers and readers," he said.

While many smaller publishers are anxious, established houses such as the Chattogram-based Baatighar are assessing the situation through a broader economic lens. Mozammel, editor at Baatighar, noted that while their business model is less dependent on the fair due to year-round sales, the impact on the wider industry will be severe.

"For small-scale publishing houses that rely primarily on the book fair, this will effectively count as a yearly loss," Mozammel explained. He pointed out that the timing could not be worse. "During Ramadan, people mostly spend money on Eid shopping and household essentials. Visitors may not have enough disposable income left for books."

Mozammel also highlighted the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, noting that as people struggle to manage basic expenses, books have gradually slipped down the priority list in recent years.

Responding to the criticism, Bangla Academy Director General Mohammad Azam acknowledged the legitimacy of the publishers' concerns, though he stopped short of promising a schedule change.

"There was uncertainty regarding the fair due to the election, but it is now scheduled for 20 February," Azam said. He clarified Bangla Academy's limited authority over high-level scheduling decisions. "Bangla Academy is responsible for organising and implementing the fair, but the decision-making and planning largely depend on the relevant government bodies and ministries."

Azam also admitted that holding the fair during Ramadan poses a risk. "Since the book fair is taking place in Ramadan, the publishers' concerns are valid," he said. "We have held several meetings with them, and we will continue to do so as many times as necessary to listen to their problems and try to find solutions."