THE Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025 has sparked significant dissatisfaction due to perceived irregularities in the allocation of pavilions and stalls. Notably, 14 prominent publishing houses received stall allocations but were excluded from pavilion assignments鈥攁 deviation from past practices. Alarmingly, one major publishing house received neither a stall nor a pavilion, while three others had their pavilion sizes reduced. These developments raise serious concerns about the fairness and transparency of the allocation process.
Following the fall of the Awami League government, two organisations, the Creative Publishers Association Against Discrimination and the Nationalist Creative Publishers鈥� Forum, criticised certain publishing houses for alleged affiliations with the previous regime. This backlash led to a reduction in pavilion and stall allocations for these establishments. In response, a group of affected publishers, under the banner of the Publishers Seeking Justice, submitted a letter to the Bangla Academy, urging redress.
The publishers demanded the reinstatement of previously allocated spaces and outlined ten key reforms. These included allowing accused publishers to defend themselves, removing unregistered representatives from the organising committee, and requiring accusers to substantiate claims of political affiliations. They also requested enhanced security measures for targeted publishers.
The final allocation list, released last January 24, allocated 901 units to 555 publishing houses. However, 15 prominent publishers were conspicuously absent, and the pavilion sizes for three others 鈥� Anupam, Anyaprakash, and Agami Prakashani 鈥� were reduced. These decisions have fuelled suspicions of political motives, particularly as they disproportionately affect publishers linked to the previous administration.
A case in point is Journeyman Books, owned by poet Tariq Sujat, a known Awami League member, which was denied both a pavilion and a stall. Similarly, other publishers such as Anindya Prakash, Kakoli Prakashani, Anwesha Prakashan, Pathak Samabesh, Puthiniloy, Misan Publishers, Tamralipi, Samay Prakashan, Genius Publications, Charulipi Prakashan, Nalanda, Bishwa Sahitya Bhavan, Pearl Publications and Shabdashaili were also left out of pavilion allocations. This pattern of exclusion mirrors controversies from the 2024 book fair, where Adarsha Prakashani was barred after its book 鈥業n Search of Mediocrity鈥� was deemed non-compliant with fair rules. Despite agreeing to comply with guidelines later, the publisher remained excluded, exemplifying the long-standing issue of political interference.
In the case of Adarsha鈥� Prakashani in 2024, the book 鈥業n Search of Mediocrity鈥� by Faham Abdus Salam reportedly violated sections 14.14 and 14.15 of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair rules. The organising committee contacted the owner of Adarsha Prakashani, requesting that the book not be displayed, but the publisher refused. As a result, Adarsha was disqualified from the stall allocation lottery. Even when the publisher later agreed to comply with the rules, their application was denied. This raises serious concerns about inconsistency and political bias in the decision-making process. For general readers like us, this is deeply troubling, as we want to access books from all publishers, regardless of political affiliation. Such exclusions limit our choices and undermine the fair鈥檚 role as an inclusive platform for diverse voices.
On January 10, 2025, Sarkar Amin, the secretary of the book fair organising committee, stated that 555 creative publishing houses had been allocated a total of 901 units for this year鈥檚 book fair. Of these, 554 publishing houses received 899 units in Suhrawardy Udyan, and 85 new publishing houses were given the opportunity to participate. In Suhrawardy Udyan, 242 institutions received one-unit stalls, 284 received two-unit stalls, 147 received three-unit stalls, and 104 received four-unit stalls. Twelve publishing houses were allocated 20x20-size pavilions, and 14 received 24x24-size pavilions. The Bangla Academy itself has one 24x24 pavilion. In the children鈥檚 section, 29 institutions received one-unit stalls, 46 received two-unit stalls and 21 received three-unit stalls. No pavilions were allocated in the children鈥檚 section this year.
In the 2024 book fair, 635 institutions were allocated a total of 937 stalls. Of these, 120 institutions received 173 stalls in the Bangla Academy field, and 515 institutions received 764 stalls in Suhrawardy Udyan. Additionally, a total of 37 pavilions were allocated. In 2023, 601 institutions were allocated 901 stalls. 112 institutions received 165 stalls at the Bangla Academy field, and 489 institutions received 736 stalls at Suhrawardy Udyan. A total of 38 pavilions were allocated that year. In 2022, 534 institutions were allocated 774 stalls. Additionally, in the 2023 book fair, 153 stalls were installed in the little magazine section, up from 127 in 2022, 140 in 2021, and 155 in 2020.
Looking back further, controversies have marred the fair in previous years. In 2023, several stalls were flagged for selling pirated books, which led to temporary suspensions but failed to result in lasting reforms. In 2022, a dispute arose when established publishers accused newer entrants of bypassing quality standards. Additionally, certain publishers, including Puthiniloy and Nalanda, have long complained about being sidelined despite meeting participation criteria. These recurring issues highlight a systemic problem in ensuring fairness and enforcing rules consistently.
The recurring challenges at the Amar Ekushey book fair highlight the urgent need for reform. The fair should embody inclusivity and fairness, but the allocation process has often been clouded by accusations of bias and favouritism in previous years. The rules for participation 鈥� requiring at least 25 quality books, a valid business license, and tax compliance 鈥� must be consistently enforced. However, some stalls continue to sell pirated books, publications without ISBN, or even unrelated items like notepads and diaries, which undermines the fair鈥檚 integrity. These issues must be addressed this year, drawing lessons from the challenges of previous fairs, to restore trust and ensure that the event truly represents the values it was meant to uphold.
In previous years, a task force report flagged several stalls for violating fair guidelines, including those from Rabeya Book House, Sampreeti Prakash, Microtech Publications and Mahi Prakashani. Despite receiving show-cause notices, these publishers continue to return year after year, perpetuating a cycle of rule-breaking. This ongoing negligence not only tarnishes the fair鈥檚 reputation but also undermines its cultural significance. The lack of consistent enforcement of rules creates an environment where such violations go unaddressed, diminishing the trust and integrity that the Amar Ekushey Book Fair should stand for.
The Amar Ekushey book fair is more than just an event; it is a celebration of literature and a reflection of our nation鈥檚 cultural identity. To preserve its core values, the organising committee must prioritise fairness and transparency. This means creating a strong, unbiased allocation process and enforcing the rules consistently. Only then can the fair truly serve as a platform for diverse voices, free from political interference or bias.
We must learn from past mistakes and take bold action to ensure the Amar Ekushey book fair remains a symbol of inclusivity and cultural pride. The time for meaningful, collaborative reform is now.We must remain vigilant about the issue of tagging, ensuring that no one can exploit this system to exclude others simply because their views or philosophies differ. It鈥檚 crucial that we move away from the mindset of silencing voices that are different from the mainstream. Ultimately, our goal is to create a society that is free from discrimination, where every voice is heard and valued.
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Nafew Sajed Joy is a writer and researcher.
