Ekushey Book Fair to be held traditionally on delayed date
Only 86 publishers have enlisted themselves for the advance-booking of stalls and pavilions by the 7 December deadline
The month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2021 will be held in the conventional way after much speculation of a virtual book fair made the rounds, but the fair schedule will be changed.
After a discussion on organising the book fair, Farid Ahmed, president of Bangladesh Gayan O Srijonshil Prokashok Samity - an association of publishers of knowledge-based and creative books – confirmed the matter to the media on Sunday.
"The book fair will not be held virtually, rather it will be organised in a traditional way like previous years," Farid Ahmed said adding, "The opening date of the fair, however, may be changed due to global coronavirus pandemic situation."
He further added that the publishers' association, along with Bangladesh Publisher and Book-sellers Association, will have to submit a proposal to Bangla Academy on how to arrange the book fair in compliance with the health guidelines amid the pandemic.
Bangla Academy Director General Habibullah Shiraji and Book fair committee's member secretary Dr Jalal Ahmed were present at the meeting with leaders of the publishers' association.
Only 86 publishers have enlisted themselves for the advance-booking of stalls and pavilions by the 7 December deadline.
Every year, the month-long national book fair begins from 1 February.