Publishers, stall managers, and translators at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 observed on Wednesday that translations drove the country’s publishing industry and those were on high demand throughout the year.
They also noted that translation acts as a bridge between cultures, as readers are increasingly interested in the stories, history, politics, and myths of diverse regions alongside classical literature.
Mominul Islam, manager of Seba Prakashani, said that most of their publications fell into the translation category. ‘Our Kishore Classic, Kishore Translation, Western, and Translation categories focus on famous writers from across the globe, while the Tin Goyenda and Masud Rana series are adapted from foreign literature,’ he said, adding that they were now reprinting these as collected volumes for readers.
Ashik Sarowar, publisher and writer at Nautilus Prokashoni, observed that there were not enough Bangladeshi books or writers to satisfy current demand, noting that the new generation of readers sought varieties beyond traditional topics.
‘We translate from Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Iranian literature, exploring genres such as horror, science fiction, and travelogues,’ he said, emphasising that they strictly followed editing policies to ensure translation quality.
Oyshee Monju, a salesperson for Kagoj Prokashan, said that they had introduced many translations of Latin American and European literature, which had attracted many readers.
Similarly, Md Shamim Hossain, head of sales at Pathak Shamabesh, claimed that their translations were bestsellers. ‘Titles such as Franz Kafka: Golpo Samagra, Jelaluddin Rumi’s The Diwan of Shams Tabrizi, and Michael H Hart’s The 100 are among the bestsellers at this fair,’ Shamim said, noting that a vast number of readers collected world literature in translation.
Halima Akter Shima, a salesperson for Academic Press and Publishers Library (APPL), mentioned that most of their religious books were translated from the works of global scholars and were highly sought after by readers. Sales representatives at Bengal Books and University Press Limited also noted the popularity of their translations, highlighting strong sales through online, in-person, and pre-order channels.
Veteran writer and translator professor Khaliquzzaman Elias remarked that the quality of translation was improving and reader interest was growing. ‘Young translators are performing exceptionally well, and new publishing houses focused on translation have become popular,’ he said, adding that Bengali literature also needed to be translated into other languages.
Writer, translator, and co-owner of Bibliophile Publication, Md Fuad Al Fidah, agreed that while classical and contemporary translations were popular, publishers must focus on quality and ethics. ‘Many translation publishers do not clear copyright issues, which is unethical,’ he said, noting that while some books were in the public domain, he personally chose to translate works that brought him joy.
Murad Ansari, a reader of classical literature, said that the translation of world literature and research had significantly expanded the landscape for Bengali readers.
According to Bangla Academy officials, 113 new books arrived on the 13th day of the fair, bringing the total number of publications this year to 1,255.
A discussion on nuclear physicist professor Shamsher Ali was held on the main stage of the fairground in the afternoon in the capital Dhaka. ABM Obaidul Islam, vice-chancellor of Bangladesh Open University, delivered the keynote, while academic and writer Farsim Mannan Mohammadi spoke at the event, which was chaired by academic Mohammed Arshad Momen.
In the evening, poets Hasan Hafiz, Shahin Reza and Masudul Haque spoke at an event titled ‘Ami Lekhak Bolchi’ on the Suhrawardy Udyan premises.
A discussion on Ekushey Padak-winning singer, composer, researcher and writer Mustafa Zaman Abbasi will be held today.
