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."  

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court today stayed the High Court order that had asked the authorities concerned to give stall allotment to Adarsha Prokashoni to participate in the month-long Ekushey Boi Mela on condition. A four-member bench of the Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order after hearing a petition. With the latest order, Adarsha Prokashoni will not be allowed to participate in the book fair. Also read: HC asks Bangla Academy for stall allotment to Adarsha Prokashoni on condition Advocate Anik R Haque stood for Adarsha Prokashoni while Senior Advocate Attorney General AM Amin Uddin represented Bangla Academy. On February 8, the HC bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir passed an order asking the authorities concerned to give stall allotment to Adarsha Prokashoni to participate in the month-long Ekushey Book Fair on condition. Counsel Anik said the court asked the Bangla Academy to give the stall allotment on condition that it cannot keep three books —‘Bangalir Mediocrity’r Sandhane’ by Faham Abdus Salam, ‘Unnoyan Bibhram’ by Zia Hasan and ‘Oprotiroddho Unnoyane Obhaboniyo Kothamala’ by Foyez Ahmad Taiyeb. Read More: Tracing the Roots of Ekushey Boi Mela Later, Bangla Academy filed a petition challenging the HC order. On Monday (February 13), the Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice M Enayetur Rahim set February 15 for hearing on the petition. Advocate Anik said that though the books were not blacklisted or banned, the participation of the publishing house was restricted involving the books. Read More: Boi Mela, Pahela Falgun & Valentine's: Visitors around DU campus spoilt for choice   The writers of 600 books, which were published from the Adarsha Prokashoni, will be deprived of taking part in the month-long fair, he said. Owner Mahabubur Rahman filed a petition with the HC seeking intervention after authorities disclosed the names of the participating publishing houses except Adarsha Prokashoni on January 12.

The High Court on Wednesday asked the authorities concerned to give stall allotment to Adarsha Prokashoni to participate in the month-long Ekushey Book Fair on condition. An HC bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the publishing house owner Md Mahabubur Rahman, said the plaintiff’s counsel barrister Anik R Hoque. Assistant Attorney General Selim Azad represented the state. Counsel Anik said the court asked the Bangla Academy to give the stall allotment on condition that it cannot keep three books—‘Bangalir Mediacretir Sandhane’ by Faham Abdus Salam, ‘Unnoyan Bibhram’ by Zia Hasan and ‘Oprotiroddo Unnoyane Obhabniyo Kothamala’ by Foyez Ahmad Taiyeb. He said that though the books were not blacklisted or banned, the participation of the publishing house was restricted involving the books. Read More: Barred from Ekushey Book Fair 2023, Adarsha goes to High Court The writers of 600 books, which were published from the Adarsha Prokashoni, will be deprived of taking part in the month-long fair, he said. Owner Mahabubur Rahman filed a petition to the HC seeking intervention after authorities disclosed the names of the participating publishing houses except the Adarsha Prokashoni on January 12.  

Md Mahabubur Rahman, the publisher of Adarsha Prakashani, Thursday challenged the Bangla Academy's decision to deny him a stall at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2023 in a writ filed at the High Court. Four people, including the director general of the Bangla Academy, were made defendants in the writ, the petitioner's lawyer Aneek R Haque said. "The hearing on the writ petition is likely to be held next week." The petitioner sought the court's instruction to allot stalls to the publishing house as soon as possible. The Bangla Academy, the governing body of the fair, published the allocation list on January 12, where Adarsha's name was dropped. Later, Adarsha learned about objections towards the book "Bangaleer Mediocrityr Sondhane" by Faham Abdus Salam, son-in-law of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. According to the writ, the reason the authorities did not allow the publishing house from attending the fair was a book that is not banned or blacklisted. "So, the decision is invalid as per the Bangla Academy Act 2013. Also, it is against freedom of speech." With virus-era norms like social distancing now discarded, this year's fair returned to its usual start date of February 1, and barring some unforeseen pandemic-level event, will last the entire month at the Bangla Academy's sprawling premises, along with the adjacent Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital.  Nine hundred and one units were allocated to 601 organisations for this year's fair, compared to 776 units to 534 organisations last year. Read more: PM opens Ekushey Book Fair 2023 in person for first time in 3 years

Bangla Academy has announced the names of 15 individuals to be conferred with the 'Bangla Academy Literary Award-2022' for their contribution in different fields of Bangla literature. The announcement was made through a press release signed by Bangla Academy deputy director Mohammad Akbar Hossain on Wednesday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to hand over the awards officially during the inauguration of Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2023. Read more: BSA, Bangla Academy celebrate PM Hasina's 76th birthday Bangla Academy Literary Award is given in different categories. The awardees for Bangla Academy Literary Award 2022 are: Faruk Mahmud and Tarik Sujat in poetry, Taposh Majumder and Parvez Hossain in fiction writing, Masuduzzaman in essay and research, Alam Khorshed in translation, Milon Kanti Dey and Farid Ahmed Dulal in drama, Dhruba Esh in children's literature, Muhammad Shamsul Haque in Liberation War research, Subhash Singha Roy in research on Bangabandhu, Mokarom Hossain in science, fiction and environmental science, Ikhtiar Chowdhury in memoirs, travelogue and autobiography and Abdul Khaleq and Muhammad Abdul Jalil in folklore. With the approval of the Bangla Academy Executive Council, 'Bangla Academy Literary Award 2022' was announced, the press release said.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr AK Abdul Momen recalled late Atful Hye Shibly, a Rajshahi University teacher and also historian, terming as a benevolent person. He was addressing a discussion, doa mahfil and unveil of a commemorative book on Shibly at Poet Shamsur Rahman auditorium in Bangla Academy on Friday morning, as the chief guest. The Rajshahi University History Alumni Association organised the programme in the city with association’s President Dr Md Mahbubur Rahman in the chair. Minister Momen said Atful, husband of his younger sister, used to be happiest once he could help someone. Addressing the good qualities of the former RU teacher, he said Prof Atful could intimate people and get close to them easily. Read more: Prominent educationist Prof Atful Hye Shibly passes away Momen said loss of educationist Atful is irreparable for their family and the country as he was a complete person with a curious mind. Prof Dr Muntasir Mamun, national professor Dr Shahla Khatun, Atful’s wife Nazir Shibly and the alumni association’s General Secretary Mahmuda Khatun among others addressed the programme by recalling memories of the late historian. Prof Atful died in a hospital in the capital on December 29, 2020 while undergoing treatment there after he tested positive for Covid-19.