A group of publishers on Monday urged authorities to reschedule the Amar Ekushey book fair 2026, requesting a decision by February 5 to postpone the event until after Eid-ul-Fitr to ensure the industry’s stability.

They also pressed three point demands for the industry at a press conference at the National Press Club, organised by Sadharan Prakashakbrinda.

They also stated that educational institutions remain closed during Ramadan and people from the evening session usually stay at home for Iftar, which results in low visitor turnout.

They alleged that the government has not provided any facilities for publishers to organise the fair, although the industry has suffered since the COVID pandemic.

The University Press Limited managing director Mahrukh Mohiuddin read out a written statement on behalf of 262 creative publishers including Mesbah Uddin Ahmed of Ahmed Publishing House, A K Nasir Ahmed of Kakoli, Mazharul Islam of Anyaprokash, Mahabub Rahman of Adarsha and Iqbal Hossain Sanu of Laboni.

Mahrukh Mohiuddin emphasised that their requirements are a matter of industry’s survival, not sentimental preference.

She also said that Bangladesh ranked 97th among 102 countries in the Global Reading Index and that sales declined by 60 per cent over the past one and a half years, adding ‘Around 95 per cent of books published in the country have a first print run of 300 copies or less, and nearly 70 per cent of those copies remain unsold.’

She also addressed logistical challenges amid the national election atmosphere, including shortages of printing, binding and stall construction workers, along with soaring construction material costs.

The other demands were that the government provide rent free stalls, launch a ‘Book Incentive’ for students, and purchase 300 copies of each standard book.