At the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026, a total of 34 new publishing houses are participating, and they mostly promote new writers.
New publishing houses include Lalpipra Prokashoni, Icchasakti Prakasani, Ihda Publication, Jadughar Prokashoni, Poroprokash, Pustok Prokashon, Priya Prokashan, Maqtabun Nur and Shobdo and most of those publishers were allocated the single unit stall in the fairground.
Writer-translator Raghu Abhijit Roy, who works with Lalpipra Prokashoni, said they have published 30 to 35 titles since starting in 2021. In this fair, they will release 20 more books, mostly written by new authors.
‘We focus on poetry, story and translations, excluding popular books, but most of the books are related to politics,’ he said, adding that the sales of books are satisfactory.
Icchasakti Prakasani started its journeny in 2023 and has already published 146 titles. This year, they plan to launch 100 titles written by young writers, said Md Nasim Pramanik, the publisher of the house.
‘Although sales of books at the fair are not great, these titles are not just for the fair,’ he said, adding that while most of the books sale online, they came primarily to promote the writers and their books, specifically in the novel and thriller categories.
Poroprokash, a publisher that mostly produces religion based books, mentioned through its salesperson that while readers usually buy books online, they want to promote the brand to a mass audinece.
Premier Prokashan sales person Parijat said that their stall was allocated at the back of the fairground, which caused low sales.
Nazimul Islam Limon, a salesperson of Jadughar Prokashoni, said that along with books, they also focus on bookmarks, gift cards and other gift items related to book-reading culture.
A total of 92 new arrivals were published on the eighth day of the fair, according to academy officials.
A discussion on Bengali poet Sukanta Bhattacharya was held on the main stage of the fairground in the afternoon.
The editor of Shahojia, Sumon Sajjad, delivered the keynote address while writer Ahmed Maula spoke at the event chaired by poet Abdul Hye Sikder.
Poet Rezauddin Stalin and Asad Kajol spoke at an event titled Ami Lekhak Balchi on the Suhrawardy Udyan premises in the evening.
A discussion on Ekushey Padak and Independence Award-winning cultural activist-Tagore exponent Kalim Sharafi would be held today, where Jagannath University Music department chairman and renowned Tagore singer Anima Roy would present the keynote paper.
The Bangla Academy organises the country’s largest book fair, commemorating the historic Language Movement of 1952 while most of the books are launched during the fair.
This year’s fair will last 18 days, even though it is usually a month-long event held throughout February.
