Publishers see highest sales on Feb 21

February 21 usually sees the highest sales at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair and this year was no exception, with the figure increasing significantly on that day (Monday) and also the day after (Tuesday).

Publishers were happy, saying sales were the highest on February 21 since the fair began in the middle of this month.

The fair starts on February 1 every year while February 21 to 28 remains the busiest period.

Shahreen Haq, publisher of Subarna Publication, took over after her father’s death a year and a half ago. She told The Business Post last year was a disaster for publishers while sales at the fair had been declining every year since the pandemic.

“But the public response on February 21 this year was quite good, and we might be able to recover losses if the sales trend continues.”

Her publishing house is one of the few in the country that publishes exclusive books on the 1971 Liberation War. It is also working on publishing a research book on the 1971 history comprising stories from 64 districts.

Nafiz Islam from Shikha Prokashoni said the first week of the fair went well. “People are buying books as well as visiting stalls.”

A salesperson at Anyaprokash said sales are better than expected. “We hope it will continue till the end of the fair.”

Arshad, a student of North South University, visited the fair with his friends on Tuesday. He said, “I returned from the entrance seeing massive crowds on Monday. It was like the last day on earth and everyone visited the fair.”

“I came today hoping there will be fewer crowds, but I saw a somewhat similar scene like yesterday.”

Despite the law enforcement agencies’ strictness, many people were seen roaming without masks.