High book prices cause meagre sales

Although the Amar Ekushey Book Fair has been witnessing a good number of visitors this year, the bibliophiles have been purchasing books in fewer numbers compared to their turnout.

The publishers claimed that the bibliophiles are not purchasing books due to the high prices. In addition, the soaring inflation in recent months has put an additional burden on the readers, many of whom are struggling to maintain their families.

Compared to the last year, the prices of paper and books witnessed a 100 per cent and 22 per cent increase respectively, according to Bangladesh Publishers and Book-Sellers Association (BAPUS).

After the weekend, the turnout of visitors was less on Sunday, and the volume of overall sales was also not high, according to the sellers.

They said the people have been suffering immensely due to hikes in commodity prices which compelled them to cut expenditure in many areas of life. Besides, the significant increase in book prices is forcing them to refrain from purchasing more books.

Most of the readers are browsing books and taking pictures after attending the fair now, the sellers said, expressing hope that the sales will rise from the last several days.

The readers were seen to look for books published previously, as the prices of the new print edition are much higher.

According to Bangla Academy, a total of 1,295 new books have been published at the fair so far. The newly arrived books have been failing to attract readers due to their high prices.

Shams Shuvro, manager of Pathak Shamabesh Center, said the prices of newly arrived books are nearly 30 per cent higher compared to those published in the previous years.

“This is why the bibliophiles are buying previous years’ published books, considering their purchasing capability,” he said.

Echoing the same sentiment, Mahmud Hossain, manager of Anyadhara publication, said 60 per cent of their total sales are previous years’ publications. Translation literature, autobiography, and subjective books are in high demand at the fair, he added.

Private job holder Md Hasan said he is struggling to run his five-member family with his salary. “The prices of books are much higher this year, especially the newly published ones, and that is why I am thinking twice before purchasing books.”

However, making a different observation, Md Gofur Hossain, member secretary of the Standing Committee on Creative Literature, said those who have a love for books will make purchases whether the prices hike or not.

At the fair, the books of Rabindranath Tagore, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Humayun Ahmed and Humayun Azad are still in high demand.