United News of Bangladesh

Bangla Academy on Thursday reiterated that the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 will begin on February 20, ruling out the possibility of postponing the country’s largest literary event. The decision was announced at an emergency press conference organised by the Bangla Academy. Member Secretary of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 Organising Committee Selim Reza said the Academy had taken note of differing opinions and proposals regarding the fair’s schedule, including requests from a section of publishers to hold the fair after Eid. “By the time such requests were made, nearly 60 percent of the preparations had already been completed,” he said. Read More: Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 to begin on Feb 20 Reza explained that organising a month-long book fair after Eid would push the schedule into April, a period marked by extreme heat, dust, frequent storms and the risk of Kalbaishakhi nor’westers and rainfall. “Considering these realities, hosting the book fair in April is not practical.” He said unavoidable circumstances had made it impossible to inaugurate the fair on February 1 this year, as done traditionally. As a result, the fair will commence on February 20, following a unanimous decision by the organising committee, which has already held several meetings. In response to publishers’ demands, the Academy has reduced stall rents by 25 percent compared to last year, despite a significant rise in overall organisational costs, Selim Reza noted. He said all major preparations for the fair have been completed as planned. An event management firm has been appointed, he said, adding, Suhrawardy Udyan has been allocated by the government, stall construction is underway, and the schedules for discussions and cultural programmes have been finalised. Invitations have also been sent to prospective speakers and contributors. Read More: Amar Ekushey Book Fair to be held on time: Press Secretary According to Selim Reza, a total of 580 institutions applied for stalls this year, including 527 publishers who participated last year and 53 new applicants.  Due to space constraints, he said, stalls have so far been allocated to all 527 returning publishers and 24 new ones. Besides, 56 institutions have applied for larger stalls compared to last year, while more than a hundred government and private organisations have also sought stall allocation for the fair. The fair will remain open daily from 2:00pm to 9:00pm. As the book fair will be held during Ramadan, the Bangla Academy said special arrangements will be in place at the fair venue for iftar facilities for visitors and participants. The Amar Ekushey Book Fair is regarded as a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s literary and cultural calendar, commemorating the Language Movement and celebrating the country’s publishing industry. Read More:‘Sparsho Braille’ distributes free books for visually impaired at Ekushey Book Fair 

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

Comprehensive security measures have been taken for the upcoming Amar Ekushey Boi Mela 2025, said DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali. Speaking at a coordination meeting on Wednesday at the DMP Headquarters, he assured that robust security, law and order, and traffic management arrangements are in place for the fair. Publications at Boi Mela still not back to pre-Covid levels "Every year, the Bangla Academy organises the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela, which will run throughout February at the academy and Suhrawardy Udyan premises. This year, DMP has ensured sufficient security around the event," he said. Both uniformed and plainclothes police officers will be stationed inside and outside the fairgrounds. Continuous surveillance will be carried out via CCTV cameras, and additional safety measures such as watch towers, fire tenders, and first aid facilities will be deployed, said the DMP official. Longest Boi Mela wraps up, with 6 million visitors across 31 days Other security protocols include sweeping event locations, deploying special plainclothes teams, and monitoring social media and drone surveillance around the fairgrounds, he added. The DMP commissioner added that all visitors must enter the venue through an archway. Large bags, cartons, and flammable materials will be strictly prohibited. As in previous years, a Lost and Found centre, help desk, and child care centre will be available to assist visitors. The DMP Commissioner expressed confidence that the fair would be conducted smoothly with cooperation and coordination from all involved. DMP Deputy Commissioner (Operations), AFM Tariq Hossain Khan, presented the security plan for the fair via a PowerPoint presentation at the meeting. Holidays are for the kids at Boi Mela; sales surge, and catching Sisimpur live Representatives from various government agencies, including the Fire Service, DPDC, Health Department, and the Ministry of Culture were present in the meeting.

People from all walks of life paid their tributes to eminent poet Helal Hafiz on Bangla Academy premises on Saturday morning. His body was taken to Bangla Academy around 11 am so that people can pay their tributes to the poet of rebellion and love who died on Friday. His first namaz-e-janaza was held in front of the Nazrul Mancha there. Admirers of the poet, people from cultural arena, writers, poets his elder brother Dulal Hafiz, younger brother Nehal Hafiz, and other family members were present. Family sources said he will be buried at Intellectual Graveyard after his 2nd namaz-e-Janaza at the National Press Club after Johr prayers today. Culture Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Director of the Bangla Academy were, among others, present Nehal Hafiz said, "We have lost him as a family member, but Bangladesh's literary arena has lost a great personality." Social media flooded with tributes to deceased poet Helal Hafiz Recitation artist Rashid Kamal said, "As long as Bangladesh’s history exists, Helal Hafiz will remain relevant. Even in the 24' uprising, he was significant." He added, "Helal Hafiz used to tell me, 'If you want to write something, you must read a lot. Then, write very little. Publish even less.'" Family members of Helal Hafiz shared that they tried several times to take him to a hospital, but he insisted, "I have no time left, I quit." Chief Adviser mourns death of eminent poet Helal Hafiz Farooki said when you talk about the songs of youth, Helal Hafiz’s name always comes to mind. He said, "I don’t know if any other poet has influenced the history of a nation’s art and culture as much with just one poetry book. He didn’t write many books, but whenever we talk about songs and youth, Helal Hafiz’s name comes up. That is his achievement."

Prof M Harunur Rashid, former Director General of Bangla Academy and ex-teacher of Jahangirnagar University, passed away at a hospital in the capital on Tuesday. He was 85. Prof Harunur Rashid, who had been suffering from cancer, breathed his last at Ibn Sina Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, his son Humayun Rashid told UNB. He was buried around 8:45pm after Isha prayers at Baba Hujur Mosque premises near Kazipara in the capital's Mirpur. Prof Rashid was born on 28 December 1939 into a Bengali Muslim family in the Tinsukia district of Assam Province. He completed his BA Honours (1960) and MA (1961) in English from Dhaka University. Later, he pursued further education at the University of Cambridge (Fitzwilliam College), UK, where he earned a BA Honours (1966) and an MA (1970). On February 7, 1991, he was appointed Director General of Bangla Academy, marking a significant milestone in his career as an educational administrator. Ex-Chief Justice Ruhul Amin dies at 83 During his tenure, he published the Bangla Academy English–Bengali Dictionary. After serving as Director General for four years, he returned to Jahangirnagar University, where he later opted for voluntary retirement in 1998. Following his retirement in 1999, Prof Rashid briefly transitioned into journalism, serving as the chief editor of Dhaka Courier, a national English-language newsweekly. However, this phase of his career was short-lived, and he subsequently joined North South University as an adjunct professor of English, where he taught for eight years until December 2008. In January 2009, he joined Darul Ihsan University as an adviser and professor of English. He also taught at the Dhaka branch of International Islamic University Chittagong, continuing his academic contributions until 28 February 2015. Prof Rashid held several prestigious positions in national organizations. He was elected president of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh in 1998 for a two-year term. In February 2007, he became the president of Bangla Academy for another two-year term. On 5 August 2015, he was unanimously elected Chairman of Wild Team (Wild Life Trust of Bangladesh). Prof Rashid’s extensive career as an academic, administrator, and advocate for wildlife conservation showcases his diverse contributions to education and society.

Dr M Harun-Ur-Rashid Askari, a former vice-chancellor of Islamic University in Kushtia, took over as the director general of Bangla Academy on Wednesday (July 24, 2024). The government appointed him to the post for the next three years on July 18. He was replaced by Nurul Huda as his tenure came to an end. The officials of the Bangla Academy, however, welcomed the newly appointed DG with floral reception. While taking charge, Dr Rashid Askari sought cooperation from all to work for the improvement of the academy’s ranking in the international arena and maintain transparency and accountability in all sectors. Rashid Askari, who previously served the IU in Kushtia as its 12th VC, joined the university as lecturer in English in 1990. Read more: 'Winds of Flavour': Jahangir Hossain's solo exhibition begins at Abinta Gallery of Fine Arts He, as a vice-chancellor, introduced considerable measures to secularize and internationalize the academic trajectory of the university as well as adopted down to earth policies to help the university cope with various challenges of the 21st Century. He has facilitated the development of the understanding of cultural diversity of humankind in order to prepare students to go forth with skills, knowledge and wisdom to serve and advance the communities in which they live and work.

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.

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

Nine individuals and one institution have been chosen for this year's Swadhinata Padak (Independence Award), Bangladesh's highest civilian award, for their contributions to the country. Freedom fighter Colonel Shamsul Alam (retired), Lieutenant AG Mohammad Khurshid (posthumous), martyred Khwaja Nizamuddin Bhuiyan, and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya have been named for their contributions to Bangladesh's independence and the Liberation War. Bangla Academy winner Begum Nadira Jahan (Surma Zahid) and ICDDRB Acting Senior Director Dr Firdausi Qadri will receive the award for their contributions to research and training, the Cabinet Division said in a notification Thursday. Late Mohammad Moinuddin Ahmed (Selim Al Deen) will get the award for his contribution to literature. Pabitra Mohan Dey and ASM Raqibul Hasan will receive the honour for their contribution to culture and sports, respectively. Read more: Eleven chosen for Independence Award 2022 The Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence has been picked for the award in the public service category. Bangladesh has been honouring individuals and institutions with the award every year ahead of Independence Day on March 26 since 1977.

Banned militant organization Ansar Al Islam have purportedly sent a letter to Bangla Academy Director General Md Nurul Huda threatening to bomb the Amar Ekushey book fair 2023. In this regard Bangla Academy DG Nurul Huda filed a general diary filed in Shahbag police station on behalf of Bangla Academy. Read more: Anti-Terrorism Unit arrest death-row convict in Madaripur The letter was sent to the office of Bangla Academy by post around 11:30 am on Thursday. Later Bangla Academy Security Officer Md. GD Jahangir Alam took it to the police station. When asked about the matter, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Shahbag Police Station Noor Mohammad said, "The banned militant organization Ansar Al Islam has written to the Director General of Bangla Academy saying that anti-social activities are going on in two hotels of the capital. If those activities are not stopped, they said they will bomb Amar Ekushey Book Fair." "Bangla Academy authorities have made a GD in this incident. We have started a preliminary investigation," he added. Read more: Tracing the Roots of Ekushey Boi Mela Director General of Bangla Academy Nurul Huda said he learned of the incident, but he was outside the office at the time. "We have filed a GD at Shahbag police station," he added. KM Mujahidul Islam, Member-Secretary of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair Management Committee, said,"The letter was sent by post at around 11:30 am. We have forwarded the letter to the police station They will look into it."