United News of Bangladesh

Children watched the puppet show with wide-eyed fascination as the second day of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair began in a lively atmosphere amid their cheerful presence.  The fairgrounds gained a different level of vibrancy from the morning, with a strong presence of young visitors on the weekly holiday, Friday. The second day of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, Bangla language and literature’s largest celebration, started in the morning with a variety of events. The day’s formal proceedings began at 9:30am at the Bangla Academy premises with a children’s drawing competition, followed by a recitation contest at 10:30am. The fair opened to visitors at 11:00am, and the designated ‘Children’s Hour’(Shishu prohor) continued until 1:00pm. During this time, the Bangla Academy grounds buzzed with drawing and recitation activities. Tomorrow’s Children’s Hour will feature music. One of the major attractions of Children’s Hour was an educational puppet show that captivated young audiences. Near the Muktomancha inside Suhrawardy Udyan, the ‘Kaktaruya Puppet Theatre: Traditional Puppet Show’ has been set up. Through the performances, children are being taught various educational messages, like reading books, avoiding excessive mobile gaming, and eating green vegetables. However, the absence of the popular ‘Sisimpur’ segment, a fixture in previous years, has created some disappointment among children. Still, the alternative puppet show has managed to keep them entertained. After Children’s Hour ended at 1:00pm, the number of visitors of all ages gradually increased. On the ground, however, there was not much crowd in front of the stalls before evening. Many stalls at the Bangla Academy premises and Suhrawardy Udyan are still not fully ready; construction and book arrangement work were seen ongoing in several stalls. This year’s fair has been shortened to 18 days due to various considerations. With Ramadan approaching, vendors are somewhat concerned about visitor turnout and sales. However, they remain hopeful that sales will increase once stall preparations are complete and the holiday mood intensifies. Publishers said holidays are extremely important for them. Like previous years, they expect good sales on Fridays and Saturdays, though there is some concern about the impact of Ramadan. Boi Mela 2026 to be held spanning Dec-Jan in view of election, Ramadan According to the fair schedule, the event runs daily from 2:00pm to 9:00pm, while on holidays it remains open from 11:00am to 9:00pm. Children’s Hour is being observed every Friday and Saturday from 11:00am to 1:00pm. Meanwhile, the main stage of the fair hosts thematic seminars daily from 3:00pm to 4:00pm, followed by cultural programmes from 4:00pm to 5:00pm.

After overcoming a series of logistical challenges, the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 opens its gates in the capital today (Thursday) with organisers promising a 'zero-waste' and  environmentally conscious edition of the country’s largest literary gathering. This year’s fair carries the theme 'Multidimensional Bangladesh' and will run until March 15. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to inaugurate the fair at 2pm. During the opening ceremony, he will also present the Bangla Academy Literary Award 2025. Organised by Bangla Academy, the month-long fair remains a central fixture of Bangladesh’s cultural calendar, marking the spirit of the Language Movement and the wider observance of Amar Ekushey. Scale and Layout According to the organisers, 549 publishing houses are participating this year. Of these, 81 stalls are located within the Bangla Academy premises and 468 at the adjoining Suhrawardy Udyan.  In total, the fair features 1,018 units. A 'Little Magazine Corner' has been arranged under the trees near the open stage at Suhrawardy Udyan, with 87 little magazines allocated stalls. The overall layout remains largely unchanged from last year, though some structural adjustments have been introduced.  Due to the positioning of the metro rail station, the exit route has been shifted closer to the temple gate. There will be four entry and exit points at TSC, Doel Chattar, the MRT basing plant and the Engineers’ Institution area. Food stalls have been placed along the boundary of the Engineers’ Institution. Ramadan Arrangements & Environmental focus With Ramadan under way, organisers have made special arrangements at the Suhrawardy Udyan section for Taraweeh prayers.  Bangla Academy assures inclusive, safe Amar Ekushey Book Fair Prayer spaces, washrooms and related facilities will remain available. The fair will be open from 2pm to 9 pm on regular days, with entry closed after 8:30 pm. On holidays, it will run from 11 am to 9pm. Fridays and Saturdays will feature a dedicated Children’s Corner from 11 am to 1:30 pm, hosting 63 institutions across 107 units.  In addition, daily seminars will take place on the main stage from 3pm to 4pm, followed by cultural programmes from 4pm to 5pm. There will also be children’s art, recitation and music competitions, alongside book launch events at Suhrawardy Udyan. This year, organisers have pledged to turn the fair into a 'Zero Waste Book Fair'. The premises will be free from polythene and smoking.  Regular water spraying will be carried out to control dust and mosquito control measures will be in place. Publishers, food vendors and stall operators have been urged to use recyclable and environmentally friendly materials such as jute, cloth and paper for stalls, banners and promotional materials. Security and Last-minute Rush  Multi-layered security arrangements have been implemented across the fairground and surrounding areas.  Archways have been installed at entry and exit points, and extensive CCTV coverage has been set up. No mob threat at Amar Ekushey Book Fair, police on full alert: DMP Members of Bangladesh Police, RAB, Ansar and various intelligence agencies will oversee security.  Adequate lighting has been arranged throughout the fairground and adjacent areas, including routes from Doel Chattar to TSC and Shahbagh, via Matsya Bhaban and the Engineers’ Institution, as well as from Doel Chattar to Shaheed Minar and Chankharpul, and from TSC to Nilkhet. Despite the preparations, some publishers say that complications surrounding the fair’s commencement during Ramadan have left them struggling to complete stall arrangements in time.  Workers were seen busy arranging books and hanging banners even on the eve of the opening. According to several publishers, not all stalls will be fully ready on the first day, with finishing touches likely to continue even after the fair formally begins.

Police on Wednesday said there is no threat of mob violence at this year’s Amar Ekushey Book Fair, as extensive security measures remain in place to prevent any untoward incidents. Speaking at a press briefing at Suhrawardy Udyan, Additional Commissioner (Admin) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Md Sarwar said law enforcement agencies were fully prepared in this regard. “There is no apprehension of mob violence at the fair. However, police preparedness is in place,” he said. The annual book fair, organised by the Bangla Academy, is being held at Suhrawardy Udyan and adjacent areas of the university campus. Responding to a question about the possible display of religion-defaming or provocative books, Sarwar said intelligence agencies would maintain strict surveillance to ensure that no such publications entered the fair premises. He said the Dhaka Metropolitan Police had adopted multilayered security arrangements in and around the venue, including the Bangla Academy and nearby locations. Uniformed officers have been deployed alongside plainclothes personnel to ensure visitors’ safety and prevent unwanted incidents. A police control room has been set up inside the fairgrounds to monitor the area around the clock. Approximately 300 CCTV cameras have been installed in and around the venue to maintain constant surveillance. All entry gates are equipped with metal detectors and archways, while dog squads are conducting regular sweeping operations. Specialised units of the DMP, including SWAT, the Bomb Disposal Unit, the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit and the Detective Branch (DB), will remain on standby throughout the event. Additional measures will be enforced at weekends, when larger crowds are expected. Bangla Academy assures inclusive, safe Amar Ekushey Book Fair Sarwar said special arrangements had also been made to ensure the safety of women and children. Facilities at the fair include a lost-and-found centre, breastfeeding corners, childcare centres, primary medical services and ambulances. On traffic management, he said the traffic division had implemented diversion plans to ease congestion in the University of Dhaka area during the fair. Heavy vehicles will not be permitted to enter the area. The road from TSC to Doel Chattar may be opened or closed temporarily depending on crowd pressure. Visitors have been advised not to wait for transport directly outside the fair gates, but instead to disembark a short distance away and walk to the venue to help reduce congestion. Police have also issued strict instructions against parking vehicles in unauthorised locations. Meanwhile, Bangla Academy assured that this year’s Amar Ekushey Book Fair will be held in a more organised, inclusive and secure manner from February 26, despite various challenges, with the participation of the highest number of publishers. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate the book fair at 2pm on Thursday.

The Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 has been postponed by a day and will now commence on February 26 instead of the earlier scheduled February 25. The date is rescheduled for the second time as it was scheduled on February 20 earlier. The inauguration ceremony will be held at Rabindra Chattar, Bangla Academy premises at 2:00 pm, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman set to officially open the fair for the first time. Commenting on the delay, Dr. Selim Reza, Secretary of Bangla Academy and Member Secretary of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 Organizing Committee, said the postponement was due to special circumstances. He confirmed that the Prime Minister will inaugurate the fair at 2 pm following the distribution of 21 awards earlier in the day. Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 to begin on Feb 20 Earlier, a meeting on February 18 at Shaheed Munir Chowdhury Auditorium, Bangla Academy brought together the Minister and State Minister of Cultural Affairs, Director General and Secretary of Bangla Academy, and representatives of publishers. The decision at that time was to start the fair on February 25, and preparations had begun accordingly. However, on February 21, the Cultural Minister announced that the Prime Minister would inaugurate the fair on February 26 after the award ceremony in the morning. Concerns had emerged over whether more than 300 publishing houses associated with Prakashak Oikya (Publishers’ Unity) would participate. The organization had earlier announced they would boycott the fair due to **lack of transparency in stall and pavilion allocation and the limited preparation time. Leaders of the group, including Mazharul Islam, CEO of Onnoprakash, and Monirul Haque of Onnona, told UNB that the absence of a fair lottery and unclear pavilion assignments prevented their participation. Amar Ekushey Book Fair to be held on time: Press Secretary Disputes arose on Saturday night regarding stall allocation, prompting Prakashak Oikya to withhold participation. The matter was also discussed in a Ministry of Cultural Affairs meeting on Sunday, but no resolution was reached. Publishers argued that unequal pavilion allocations forced mainstream publishers into smaller stalls, undermining their participation. However, publishers have decided to participate as the government has now accepted the publishers’ conditions. Mahrukh Mohiuddin, Managing Director of UPL, announced this at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka at yesterday noon that Prakashak Oikya will participate in the fair. Mahrukh said, “Initially, Publishers’ Unity demanded that no pavilion be assigned to anyone, including themselves, to ensure equality. When that demand was not met, they announced non-participation. But last night, a sincere agreement was reached between the Ministry of Culture, Bangla Academy, and the Bangladesh Book Publishers and Sellers Association (BAPS). With government approval of their conditions, the publishers are now participating.” She added that more than 200 publishers submitted applications on February 19 following the agreement. Among those present at the press briefing were Mesbahuddin of Ahmed Publishing House, Syed Zakir Hossain of Adorn Publication, Dipankar Das of Batighar Publishing, and Mahbub Rahman of Adarsh Publishing.

The month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025 entered its third day on Monday, drawing a large number of visitors. This year, the fair hosts 99 stalls on the premises of Bangla Academy and 609 stalls at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan. A total of 708 publishers were expected to participate, compared to 642 publishers last year. Visitors can visit the fair from 3 pm to 9 pm on regular days. On holidays, it will remain open from 11 am. Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus inaugurated the fair on Saturday, which carries the theme “July Gono Obbhuthyan: Notun Bangladesh Binirman” (The July Uprising: Rebuilding a New Bangladesh). The fair also features 37 pavilions—one at Bangla Academy and 36 at Suhrawardy Udyan. A dedicated space for little magazines has been set up near the open stage of Suhrawardy Udyan. Read: Book Fair: Paperback still rules readers' choice in digital age

The curtain has fallen on the longest Boi Mela ever, with a total of 6 million patrons having visited the fair,, and a total of 3751 new books being published at the fair. Book sales amounted to an estimated Tk 60 crore. Data collected from the Bangla Academy about new book publications show that the number of new book publications decreased remarkably after the Covid-19 pandemic, and even though they rose this year from last year, they are still not back to pre-Covid levels. In 2019, a total of 4834 new books were published from the stage of the book fair. In 2020 the number of new book publications saw an increase to 4919. In 2021’s book fair, the first after the pandemic, the number of new book publications decreased to 2640. However, after 2021, the number of new book publications started seeing gradual but very low increment. In 2022, the number of new books climbed to 3416 from 2640, and 2023’s book fair book witnessed a total of 3730 new books being unveiled. This year, slightly increasing, the number of new book publication hit the number 3751. Books worth Tk47 crore sold in Amar Ekushey Book Fair in 27 days Collected data shows that 144 new books, related to Bangabandhu, were published in 2020’s book fair. In 2021, Bangabandhu related books decreased nearly twice than 2020’s fair hitting the publication number 51 and after the year in 2022, 77 books related to Bangabandhu were unveiled from the book unveiling stage. In 2023 the number again decreased and marked the number 35 and this year only 27 Bangabandhu related books were published from the book unveiling stage of Amar Ekushey Book fair. For poem category books, in 2020, 1585 new books were unveiled from the book unveiling stage which decreased to 898 in 2021. After 2021, the number of poem related book publication climbed to 1060. Then in 2023 it climbed to 1257 and this year it again went down to 1192. Aside from this, the number of new research work publications from the book fair also seem to have decreased over the last five years.In 2020, a total of 112 research related books were published from the book fair ground. In 2021, the number fall to 47. However, in 2022 the number of new research publications was 102. But research-based book publication number again fall to 75 and remain the same since 2023. For liberation war category books, in 2020, a total of 152 new books were published from the book unveiling stage. In 2021 the number of new published book of this category was 84. In 2022, the number of liberation war related books was 102. After that the number of new books of this category remained the same hitting the number 75. Curtain falls on Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2023 On the same way, the differences of the numbers of new book publication among other categories like story books, Novels, health related books, translated books, drama, science category books were observed from the found data which indicate that covid-19 pandemic effected Amar Ekushey book publication negatively.

In anticipation of the Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela (book fair) 2024, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has announced extensive security measures to tackle potential sabotage acts and militant threats. The security plan, detailed by DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, aims to ensure a safe environment for the attendees of Bangladesh’s largest book fair, set to open on February 1. Commissioner Rahman, after inspecting the security protocols, stated, “We have put in place a robust security framework to enable visitors to explore and enjoy the fair without any apprehension.” These remarks were made during his visit to the book fair’s location in Dhaka’s Suhrawardy Udyan on Wednesday. Books worth Tk47 crore sold in Amar Ekushey Book Fair in 27 days Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is slated to inaugurate the month-long cultural event at 3 pm on February 1. In a first for the fair, attendees can now enter and exit through five designated gates at Suhrawardy Udyan, including a special entrance via the Engineering Institute. Each entry point will be equipped with archways and metal detectors to enhance safety. The DMP Commissioner outlined the comprehensive security measures, including the establishment of internal and external security perimeters and continuous surveillance by undercover detectives. Additionally, numerous watch towers have been erected to oversee and prevent any unforeseen incidents. Further bolstering the security, the entire fair area is under continuous CCTV monitoring, connected to a dedicated control room. The DMP has arranged various patrolling units, including foot, street, and cyber patrols, around the fair vicinity. The presence of the dog squad, SWAT team, and bomb disposal unit will provide an immediate response capability. Kid’s zone of Ekushey Book Fair abuzz with little book lovers  In addition to these security provisions, the DMP has taken measures to cater to the comfort and well-being of the visitors. These include a lost and found center for missing children, a nursing center for mothers, blood donation facilities, and access to pure drinking water throughout the fair premises. The security plan was detailed in the presence of senior DMP officials, emphasizing the significance and scale of the protective measures for this cultural cornerstone event. Read more: Tracing the Roots of Ekushey Boi Mela

The Amar Ekushey Book Fair, or Boi Mela, is almost here. Bangla Academy, the traditional guardian of the month-long book fair, which takes the form of a literature festival, has already allotted stalls and pavilions to the publishers. Visiting the fairgrounds in Suhrawardy Uddyan and Bangla Academy’s sprawling premises in recent days, UNB observed that the publishers have been working diligently to prepare their stalls and pavilions since receiving their allotment on January 23. The publishers were seen instructing their workers and carpenters to build the stalls according to their preferred design - some simple and traditional, others quite extravagant. While talking to UNB at the fair premises, the publishers expressed their hope to see even bigger crowds than previous ones due to the Metro Rail opening in the city. They mentioned the two metro stations located near the fairgrounds (Shahbagh and TSC stations), which will allow people from distant locations in the city to attend the fair easily and smoothly. Ahmed Munir, the proprietor of Uchhas Publications, is confident this year's fair will be more crowded than ever, and the number of readers and visitors will increase. Many people will come from different parts of the country even, because the overall communication system is much better now. So, readers will be able to come to the fair very easily and in less time than before. Curtain falls on Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2023

Falgun, the first month of the festive Spring season and the eleventh month in the Bengali calendar, will be welcomed Tuesday and will also be celebrated on the same day as Valentine's Day, which has been a tradition in Bangladesh since 2020. The second largest celebration in the Bengali calendar year, Pahela Falgun meaning Falgun 1st, used to be celebrated on February 13 every year; however, it was merged with Valentine’s Day in 2020 when Bangla Academy revised Bangla Calendar to align it better with the Gregorian calendar. Welcoming the king of all the six seasons which breathes the life back into brings vibrant sunshine and mild heat in the weather after the short-lived Winter season in the country, the nation is ready to greet the first day of Falgun amid colourful festivities and yellow-red festive attires. Read More: Budget-friendly Ways to Celebrate Valentine's Day Keeping pace with the rest of the world, Bangladeshis will also celebrate Valentine’s Day with their beloved ones, a day symbolising and celebrating love among their beloveds. Although the added festivities of Pahela Falgun brought a new and refreshing tone to the day, netizens especially the youths have been observing the day for the last couple of decades now.  Different organisations and businesses will be celebrating this festive February 14 with multiple festivities this year, marking the return of grand in-person celebrations after three long years of battling with the Coronavirus pandemic and its aftermaths. The tradition of celebrating the Pahela Falgun in Bangladesh started in the Bengali calendar year 1401. Since then, the Jatiya Bawshonto Utsab Udyapan Parishad has been celebrating Pahela Falgun regularly with colourful cultural festivity at the Bakultala of Charukala (Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Art) in the morning every year. Read More: 10 Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Wife Although the Parishad could not arrange the regular festivities in 2022 due to the pandemic, this year the organization will observe the Pahela Falgun festivities in Charukala Bakultala at 7 am and 3 pm with two different seasons. It will also host similar festivities in the afternoon on the open stage at Uttara Rabindra Sarani and Bahadur Shah Park in the capital. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) will organise a special cultural event at its Nandan Mancha at 4pm. The event will feature musical performances, recitations, dance recitals and choreography of Spring-themed Bengali fashion; however, it also obligated the female festival-goers to must wear flower garlands and males to wear flower garlands in their hands, which infuriated many netizens on social media as they believe such events should not make such obligations. The ongoing Amar Ekushey Book Fair at Bangla Academy and Sohrawardi Udyan already observed an influx of crowd on Monday, the long-standing usual day of Pahela Falgun in the past; and the book-sellers and fair authorities are expecting an even bigger crowd on Tuesday amid the festivities. Read More: Tracing the Roots of Ekushey Boi Mela.

The longest-running Amar Ekushey Book Fair concluded in the capital Thursday. The 31-day fair is estimated to have sold books worth Tk52.50 crore. Traditionally held throughout February every year at the Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan, the fair's 2022 edition started on February 15 after a pandemic-induced delay. Jalal Ahmed, director of the Bangla Academy and member secretary of the Ekushey Book Fair Committee, presented the sales report of this year at the closing ceremony.