Bangla Academy assures inclusive Ekushey Book Fair From Feb 26

Director General of Bangla Academy Dr Mohammad Azam addressing a press conference on Tuesday 24 Feb 2026,

Dhaka, Feb 24 - Bangla Academy on Tuesday assured that this year’s Amar Ekushey Book Fair will be held in a more organised, inclusive and secure manner from February 26, despite various challenges, with the participation of the highest number of publishers.

Director General Dr Mohammad Azam made the remarks at a press conference outlining last-minute preparations for the fair.

Dr Selim Reza, Secretary of Bangla Academy and Member Secretary of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 Organising Committee, presented a detailed report on the preparations.

He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate the fair as chief guest at 2pm. The theme of this year’s event is ‘Multidimensional Bangladesh’.

Emphasising inclusivity, Dr Mohammad Azam said the fair would be ‘a place for all opinions and people’. “Additional security forces have been deployed to prevent any untoward incidents, as we believe in an inclusive book fair.”

Regarding stall construction, he said publishers had assured him that work would be completed on time with extra effort.

Stalls and Participation

A total of 549 publishing houses are participating this year. Of them, 81 will be located on the Bangla Academy premises and 468 at Suhrawardy Udyan, with a combined total of 1,018 units.

The Little Magazine Corner has been set up near the open stage area of Suhrawardy Udyan, where 87 little magazines have been allocated stalls.

The Children’s Corner, featuring 63 institutions with 107 units, has been placed at the centre of Suhrawardy Udyan to ensure easy access and safe movement for children.

Layout and Facilities

While the overall layout remains similar to last year, several structural adjustments have been made. Due to the location of the metro rail station, the main exit has been shifted closer to the temple gate area.

There will be four entry and exit points via TSC, Doel Chattar, the MRT base plant and the Engineering Institute area.

Food stalls have been arranged along the boundary of the Engineering Institute. Prayer spaces, washrooms and other essential services will be available. During Ramadan, arrangements will be made for Taraweeh prayers at the Suhrawardy Udyan section of the fair.

Organisers said a mobile app has been updated to make it more user-friendly, enabling visitors to easily locate book stalls.

Books will be sold at a 25% commission by Bangla Academy and participating publishers, while government institutions will follow their designated commission rates. Bangla Academy book stalls will be available in both sections of the fair.

Events

Daily thematic seminars will be held from 3pm to 4pm, followed by cultural performances on the main stage from 4pm to 5pm.

On Fridays and Saturdays, children’s and adolescents’ programmes — including drawing, recitation and music competitions — will take place from 11am to 1pm.

Security & Cleanliness

Archways will be installed at entry and exit points. Overall security will be ensured by Bangladesh Police, Rapid Action Battalion, Bangladesh Ansar and intelligence agencies, supported by a comprehensive CCTV system.

The fair will be a polythene- and smoke-free one. Authorities said sufficient lighting, regular cleaning, dust control and mosquito management measures have been arranged in and around the venue and adjoining areas.

Awards

Several awards will be presented, including the Chittaranjan Saha Memorial Award for quality publishing, the Munier Chowdhury Memorial Award for artistic excellence, the Rokonuzzaman Khan Dadabhai Memorial Award for children’s literature, and the Qayyum Chowdhury Memorial Award for best stall design.

A new accolade — the Sardar Joyenuddin Memorial Award — has been introduced this year for new publishing houses, with first, second and third prizes.

Green Initiative

Organisers aim to make this year’s fair environmentally conscious and zero-waste, encouraging the use of reusable and eco-friendly materials such as jute, cloth and paper in stalls, stages, promotional materials and food outlets.

The inauguration date was rescheduled for the third time, having previously been set for February 25 and February 20, 2026, and December 17 last year.

The fair will run from February 26 to March 15. It will remain open from 2pm to 9pm on regular days and from 11am to 9pm on holidays. Entry will close at 8:30pm. - UNB