Ekushey Book Fair – Amar Ekushey Boi Mela, the Dhaka Book Fair

The Ekushey Book Fair is also known as the Amar Ekushey Grantha / Boi Mela. This is a book fair in commemorate of the martyrs of the language movement in the 21st February, 1952. After the movement, Bangla got the honor of the state language of former East Pakistan. The fair is also popular as the Ekushey Boi Mela. This is a national book fair of Bangladesh. The Bangla Academy arranges this Dhaka book fair each year and continues for the entire month of February near the academy ground.

A Brief History of the Ekushey Book Fair in Dhaka

The history of the book fair is as old as the history of the freedom of Bangladesh. In so far it’s known, the Ekushey Book Fair was started in the hand of Chittaranjan Saha in February 8, 1972. The first Ekushey Book Fair was displaying only 32 books in front of the Bardhaman House on a mat near the Dhaka University. The Muktadhara (former Swadhin Bangla Literature Society) was published these books. The books were written by the refugees of Bangladesh. He continued his effort to arrange the Dhaka book fair up to 1976. Many people got inspired from him and involved in 1976. And then the Bangla Academy started to handle the Ekushey Book Fair from 1978.

The Association of the Bangladesh Book Sellers & Publishers got involved in 1979 with the fair. The association was also founded by Chittaranjan Saha. The Bangla Academy first organized the Ekushey Book Fair in 1983. But, it was postponed due to the anti-ershad movement. It was resumed in 1984. A little fair of just 32 books is becoming the biggest and traditional Dhaka bookfair in Bangladesh of the Bangla language. The area of the fair was expanded up to the Suharawardi Garden due to the accommodation problem in 2014. At the present time, more than 425 publishers are participating in the fair.

Description of the Ekushey Book Fair

The fair was used to stay up to 21st of February for many years. But, due to the demand of the sellers, buyers and visitors the fair is prolonged for the whole month of the February. The department of the Cultural Affairs of Bangladesh government controls the fair. The stalls are divided for the publishers, little magazines, child corner, Non-Governmental and Governmental Institute.

Moreover, the fair is also divided according to the name of the language movement martyrs, including Rafiq, Barkat, Shafiur, and many other scholars and renowned personnel. Here come many local publishers as well as some foreign publishers like India, Japan, Russia, and other countries. Some government institutions take stalls in the fair, such as Bangladesh Tourism Board etc.

At the present time, some of the digital publishers like CD, VCD, and VDV take place at the Ekushey Book Fair. Some mobile operators come into the fair to introduce their new products and offers. The little magazines draw the huge attention to the visitors. Some other good sides of the fair are the area is free of pollution and smoking, 20% to 25% seller’s discount etc.

Selection of Publication for the Ekushey Book Fair

A committee is formed by the Bangla Academy to decide about the publishers and the publications by type of stall. But, the procedures of the selection have been restricted since 2010. Instead of that, the submissions are required for some definite things. And then the Bangla Academy selects from them with their procedures.

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