[🇧🇩] Ekushey Book Fair

[Saif]

EKUSHEY BOOK FAIR: More volumes of poetry, fewer readers

The number of volumes of poetry at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025 this week reached 300 but the sale of collections of poems decreased as people read poems in different ways, publishers said on Thursday...

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EKUSHEY BOOK FAIR: More volumes of poetry, fewer readers
MA Aslam Molla 21 February, 2025, 01:29

The number of volumes of poetry at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025 this week reached 300 but the sale of collections of poems decreased as people read poems in different ways, publishers said on Thursday.

Amjad Hossain Khan Kajol, sales manager of Oitijjhya, said that they published 29 collections of poems at the fair.

‘We have published collections of poems and most of the authors are young and they write about contemporary issues,’ Kajol said, adding that readers collect poems related to the July uprising.

Amra Kotha Boli Kenona Neerobota Fascister Bhasa by Hasan Robayet, Memories of 33 July by Rummana Jannat and a collection of poems about July uprising titled July Raktalal attracted readers, said Kajol.

Zahidul Islam Tuhin, the chief executive officer of Nalanda Publishing House, said, ‘Most of the collections of poems are small in size and we publish small quantities because a few readers collect poems,’ Tuhin said, adding that they have published 300 copies for each edition.

Akash Chandra Shill, shop manager of Boitorni, said that readers, especially youth, liked to read poems.

Arifa Yesmin, a reader of poems and also a young poet, said that readers of poems grew mainly from study circles.

‘Contemporary poets like to address contemporary issues and express their own realisation instead of narrating events or beauty,’ said Arifa while speaking about the difference between contemporary poetry and classic poetry.

Poet Shimul Salahuddin said that publishers should pay in advance for publishing collections of poems.

‘Collections of poems are published by different publishing houses for their prestige,’ said Shimul Salahuddin.

A total of 112 new titles including 27 collections of poems, 13 collections of short stories and eight novels were published on Thursday at the fair, according to the Bangla Academy officials.

A discussion titled Amar Ekushey Baktrita by former Jahangirnagar University professor Anu Muhammad will be held on the academy premises on Friday.

The fair will open today at 8:00am and end at 9:00pm to observe Amar Ekushey.​

 

[Saif]

EKUSHEY BOOK FAIR: Crowd, festivity, sale delight publishers

The Ekushey Book Fair became festive with the presence of a large crowd on Bhasha Shaheed Dibas and International Mother Language Day on Friday....

www.newagebd.net

EKUSHEY BOOK FAIR: Crowd, festivity, sale delight publishers
MA Aslam Molla 21 February, 2025, 23:34

This photo taken on February 21, 2025 shows a large crowd of people pouring into the Ekushey Book Fair on Suhrwardy Udyan in the capital. | Md Saurav

The Ekushey Book Fair became festive with the presence of a large crowd on Bhasha Shaheed Dibas and International Mother Language Day on Friday.

The fair was open at 8:00am and ended at 9:00pm.

Bangla Academy premises and Suhrawardy Udyan became crowded in the evening and the sale reached pick, said publishers.

Most of the visitors were in black attires to pay tribute to the martyrs of the 1952 Language Movement, now observed as International Mother Language Day.

Visitors also joined the cultural events, discussions and theatre festival at the fairground marking the Amar Ekushey.

Long queues were seen at every entry and exit point while police and other law enforcement agencies struggled to ensure security.

Young poet Rajia Sultana Nurin came with her friends to the fair in the evening and said that the fairground turned into a festival with the presence of a large number of people.

‘People walking, gossiping and eating in a book fair, it is nice to see the festivity among the people. Readers should buy their desired book among the crowd,’ said Nurin, adding that she did not watch any tension about security at the fairground.

Writers, poets and publishers were too busy to manage the readers who came to buy books.

Saurav Ghosh, a sales person of Panjeree Publications, said that at 7:30pm they could not take lunch because of the pressures of readers.

‘A huge crowd visited the stall and sought different books at noon which still continues and the sale is three to four times higher than other days,’ said Saurav, adding that the sale in the morning hours was not as good as they expected.

Adarsha chief executive officer Mahabub Rahman said that the sale was higher than that of other days but less than the past year.

‘A large number of crowds visit the fairground but sale is less compared to the past the year. Undoubtedly, the visitors create life for the fair,’ said Mahabub Rahman, hoping that readers would collect their desired books this week.

Record 307 new titles, including 80 collections of poems, 40 novels and 35 collections of short stories, were published on Friday at the fair, according to Bangla Academy officials.

A discussion on poet Kaykobad will be held on the academy premises on Saturday.

The fair will open today at 11:00am and end at 9:00pm.​