Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday inaugurated the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 as the chief guest at a programme held on the Bangla Academy premises in the capital.
The Prime Minister formally opened the fair at around 3pm. During the ceremony, he also handed over the Bangla Academy Literary Award 2025 to the recipients.
The event was presided over by Bangla Academy President Professor Abul Kashem Fazlul Haq, while Director General Professor Mohammad Azam delivered the welcome speech.
Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury and State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam attended the inaugural event as special guests.
According to the schedule, the fair will remain open from 2pm to 9pm on regular days, with entry closing at 8:30pm. On weekly holidays, it will open at 11am and continue until 9pm. The fair will run until 15 March.
This year, a total of 549 publishing houses are taking part in the fair. Among them, 81 are located within the Bangla Academy premises, while 468 have set up stalls at Suhrawardy Udyan. The total number of units stands at 1,018. Last year, 708 publishers participated with 1,084 units.
Authorities have taken extensive security measures for the event. Archways have been installed at entry and exit points, and members of police, RAB, Ansar, and intelligence agencies will remain on duty. CCTV cameras have also been installed across the fairgrounds to ensure safety and discipline.
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