Bangladesh’s flagship literary event, the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026, is scheduled to open on 20 February, despite warnings from a large number of publishers that holding the fair during Ramadan could lead to significant financial losses.
Bangla Academy officials confirmed that preparations for the month-long fair are already underway.
Dr Md Selim Reza, member secretary of the fair’s organising committee, said, “The lottery for stalls and pavilions was completed on Tuesday night, and allocations have been finalised. Publishers can now start arranging their spaces.”
A total of 662 stalls have been allocated this year, 133 more than in 2025, including 24 new publishing houses. The fair will feature 23 pavilions, 11 for established publishers and 12 for newcomers. Payment deadlines for stalls were extended from 9 February to 11 February to facilitate confirmations.
However, the timing of the event during the fasting month of Ramadan has sparked strong objections.
More than 300 publishers, represented by the platform Prokashok Oikk (Publishers’ Unity), have threatened to boycott the fair, arguing that shorter working hours and reduced daytime spending could severely impact sales. They describe participation under these conditions as “commercial suicide.”
In an open letter, the publishers appealed to Tarique Rahman, the incoming Prime Minister, urging intervention.
They noted that the industry has been under immense strain due to political and economic instability over the past 18 months, rising production costs and election-related printing delays.
The publishers are not opposing the fair itself but want a “successful and inclusive” event.
They have proposed postponing the fair until after Eid to ensure a more festive atmosphere and to safeguard the financial health of participating publishers.
For now, Bangla Academy remains firm on the 20 February start date, setting the stage for a potential clash between organisers determined to uphold tradition and publishers concerned about economic realities.
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