On the 21st of February, 1972, a Muktodhara Publishing House started a small book sale in front of the Bangla Academy. The initiative was taken by Chittaranjan Saha, a Bangladeshi educationist and receiver of the 2005 Ekushey Padak. Other book publishers joined in the sale, and soon, this coalition of publishers became unofficially, and then officially, the most significant book fair in Bangladesh. Bangla Academy took over the organisation of the fair in 1978, and six years later, it came to be known as the ‘Amar Ekushey Boi Mela.
The event is dedicated to the martyrs who lost their lives trying to establish Bangla as one of the state languages of former East Pakistan. Over the years, the Ekushey Boi Mela has gone from being a simple book fair to becoming a raring celebration of the culture of modern Bangladesh. With cultural and literary events punctuating each day of the month-long fair, it is every reader, writer and publisher’s location to be in
During the second month of the year. With free entry to the fair, and attractive discounts on new publications from veteran and novice writers, Bangla Academy sees enormous crowds of readers on its premises every year. Publishers prepare to launch the highest number of books during this month. Inaugurated by the head of the government, the Ekushey Boi Mela typically starts on the 1st of February and ends on the 28th/29th of the month.
OVER THE YEARS, THE EKUSHEY BOI MELA HAS GONE FROM BEING A SIMPLE BOOK FAIR TO BECOMING A RARING CELEBRATION OF THE CULTURE OF MODERN BANGLADESH.
Last year, due to disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the fair started on the 18th of March and ended on the 12th of April. Historically, this was the first time the fair had to be delayed. Despite the revised timing, crowd control and hygiene maintenance efforts the fair saw low crowd turnouts due to the pandemic scare. It was a lacklustre affair that left publishers and writers in despair, and the event was financially unsuccessful. Where typically sales would amount to figures upwards of BDT 10 million every year, unprecedented losses were incurred by booksellers in 2021 – a hit that some say will take 4 to 5 years to recover. Towards the end of last year, publishers held a seminar to voice their concerns and talk about how the fair could become a better experience for the attendees. They wished for lower stall prices, more autonomy over book discounts, stricter selection process, and revised fair timings and venue choices for stage events and bookstalls.
Publishers and readers are looking forward to the Ekushey Boi Mela in 2022 as it marks the momentous occasion of 50 years of the country’s independence and the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Preparations are ongoing at the Suhrawardy Udyan and Bangla Academy premises, with decoration that speaks to the theme – ‘Bangabandhu’r Jonmo Shotoborsho Ebong Swadhinotar Suborno Joyonti (Birth Centenary of Bangabandhu and Golden Jubilee of the Independence)’. It is expected that the Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be inaugurating the event and readers will see Bangla Academy release a series of books on the Father of the Nation named ‘Jonmo-shotobarshiki Gronthomala’.
Everything still hangs in the balance as a new surge in COVID-19 cases washes over the country. At the time of this writing, Bangladesh is riding infection rates of almost 25%, and if conditions worsen, stricter measures are expected. However, publishers remain undaunted. As of December 2021, the fair committee had already received about 300 bookstalls requests from publishing houses and is expecting more. Director of Bangla Academy and Member Secretary of Ekushey Book Fair Committee Jalal Uddin Ahmed mentioned that there were 460 publishers taking part in the event last year, and they are expected to join the fair this year. The fair is set to start from the 1st of February, and end on the 28th. The fair’s timing stands between 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm on working days, and 11:00 am to 8:30 pm on weekends. On the 21st of February, 2022, the fair will remain open from 8:00 am till 9:00 pm.
PUBLISHERS AND READERS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE EKUSHEY BOI MELA IN 2022 AS IT MARKS THE MOMENTOUS OCCASION OF 50 YEARS OF THE COUNTRY’S INDEPENDENCE AND THE BIRTH CENTENARY OF THE FATHER OF THE NATION, BANGABANDHU SHEIKH MUJIBUR RAHMAN.
Considering last year’s losses and publishers’ concerns over finances, Ahmed informed that the stall rent could be paid in instalments this time, and the deadline for the last date of payment has also been extended. He maintains that Bangla Academy is taking all possible steps to ensure the safety of the visitors, especially in the face of the fast-spreading variant, Omicron and urges visitors to do the same from their end.
Ekushey Boi Mela is a treasured legacy for all Bangladeshis and one that has been sorely missed in the past two years due to the pandemic situation. This year, the national book fair, given the joyous milestones associated with it, is heavy with expectations from publishers and the masses alike. Here’s hoping for a safe event that brings back all the lost bounties of the past year and more. Amar Ekushey!