Publishers sold books worth Tk 60 crore at Amar Ekushey Book Fair, the largest book fair in the country, till March 1 this year.
On behalf of Member Secretary of the Ekushey Book Fair Organising Committee KM Muzahidul Islam, Deputy Director of the Bangla Academy Sahed Mantaj gave this information at the closing ceremony of the book fair at the Bangla Academy on Saturday.
“Books worth around Tk 60 crore were sold till Friday, but the amount might go up if we include books sold on Saturday,” he added.
According to Bangla Academy, a total of 3,730 books were launched in 2023 with total sales of about Tk 47 crore while 3,416 new books were published and the sales amount was estimated at Tk 52.5 crore in 2022.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, only 2,640 new titles were published and the sales amount was Tk 3.11 crore in 2021. Some 4,919 books were sold in 2020 with a turnover of Tk 82 crore, while 4,834 books in 2019 with a turnover of Tk 77.50 crore and 4,590 books in 2018 with a turnover of Tk 70.50 crore.
The deputy director of Bangla Academy also said that books were sold at a 25 per cent discount at this year’s book fair. According to the information on the book fair, 3,751 new books have been published, he added.
According to archway calculations, around 60 lakh visitors came to this year’s book fair till March 1, Sahed Mantaj said.
Prime Minister’s Education and Cultural Affairs Adviser Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury attended the closing ceremony as the chief guest while Cultural Affairs Secretary Khalil Ahmed as the special guest.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs Nahid Ezhar Khan was present as guest of honour.
Bangla Academy Director General Mohammad Nurul Huda delivered the welcome speech. Mir Nawbut Ali, Chief Marketing Officer of bKash Limited, delivered a greeting speech at the event. Bangla Academy President Selina Hossain presided over the ceremony.
They handed over the four categories of awards to the publishing houses for their publications and the interior designs of the bookstalls or pavilions.
Chittaranjan Saha Smriti Purasker went to Kothaprokash Prokasani, while Munier Chowdhury Smriti Purasker went to Prothoma Prokasana, Oitijjha Prokasani and Journeyman Books. Rokonuzzaman Khan Dadabhai Smriti Purasker went to Mayurpankhi Prokasani and Qayyum Chowdhury Smriti Purasker went to Anyaprokash Prokasani, Nymphea Publication and Bengal Books Prokasani.
“Bangla Academy has organised the fair alone this year. We are happy to finish all the activities nicely,” Mohammad Nurul Huda said in his speech.
Selina Hossain said, “The Amar Ekushey Book Fair organised by Bangla Academy is an extraordinary part of our national life. The gradually increasing crowd at the Ekushey Book Fair is proof that the demand for printed books hasn’t ended despite the immense development of information technology.”
