1. Introduction: The Amar Ekushey Book Fair Spirit
The Amar Ekushey Book Fair, also known as the “Boi Mela,” is not merely a collection of book buyers and sellers but an icon of the cultural heritage of the literature of Bangladesh and the unbreakable willpower of the nation. Held annually during the month of February within the city of Dhaka, the fair makes the city a pulsating center for readers, writers, and publishers. The fair has evolved into an influential cultural movement since 1979 that resonates the nation’s love for literature and freedom.
2. Historical Background: Humble Origins to Cultural Phenomenon
The origins are intrinsically connected with the history of Bangladesh. The activists along with the students laid down their lives on 21 February 1952 to create the Bengali language as a state language of erstwhile East Pakistan. This day has now come to be named as “Ekushey February” and has become the symbol of linguistic identity.
In 1972, publisher Chittaranjan Saha began a small book fair on the campus of the Bangla Academy to commemorate the Language Movement. That small start was the beginning of what came to evolve into the Ekushey Book Fair. In 1979, the Bangla Academy officially took the responsibility upon themselves, and the fair began to take the form of an annual one.
Initially lasting for a week, the fair was later extended to 21 days and then the entire month of February. Decades later, it has snowballed to the extent that it now receives millions annually and has found a place on the cultural calendar for the nation.
3. Significance: More Than a Book Fair
The Amar Ekushey Book Fair is one that transcends the usual understanding of a book fair. Its grandeur can be captured through the following:
Cultural Identity: The fair is held to honor the Language Movement martyrs to celebrate the centrality of the culture and the language.
Literary Promotion: It provides a forum where writers, poets, and publishers market their writing to encourage literature creativity and discussion.
Economic Impact: The fair stimulates the economy locally by supporting retailers, printers, publishers, and the hospitality industries.
Social Engagement: It offers a shared space where people from different backgrounds come together to form social cohesion and mental stimulation.
4. Structural Evolution: Adapting to the Changing Times
Over the years the fair has experienced some stunning structural developments to meet the increased popularity:
Venue Expansion: The fair was initially limited to the Bangla Academy complex but was extended further to the surrounding Suhrawardy Udyan to accommodate the growing visitors’ traffic and the number of stalls.
Stall Allocation: The figure has risen from a few to more than 600 publishers requesting further official stall allocation.
Digital Integration: In the recent years free wireless services are made available and digital channels are employed for advertising purposes along with virtual tours that illustrate the integration of technology within the infrastructure of the fair.
5. Sales Trends: The Rollercoaster Ride
To comprehend the situation with the fair today is to view the two years’ worth of sales figures:
Note: 1 crore = 10 million.
The sharp decline during 2025 sales is observed, prompting an inquiry into the cause.
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6. Challenges: Riding the Stormy Sea
The sharp decline in book sales during the 2025 Amar Ekushey Book Fair is shocking. There are various reasons behind this but the basic causes are economic, technological, qualitative, and behavioral. We will address them one by one.
6.1 Economic Considerations: Purchasing Power and Inflation
One of the most important challenges that hit book sales is inflation. The price of essential commodities has gone through the roof in Bangladesh, and books are now a luxury for the majority. A middle class tourist or a student, once economizing for books, can now not afford to put them beyond the minimum necessities.
Example: A book that was sold for BDT 200 during 2020 now retails for between BDT 500–600. The rise in price deters young readers, especially students, from purchasing books.
Publishers, on the other hand, assert that the added production cost (paper, printing, and distribution) makes them charge a higher price. But has this tactic worked?
6.2 Technological Disruptions: The Rise of Digital Alternatives
The digital era has impacted significantly on the way individuals read. While readers like to read books the traditional way, the majority of new-age readers read digitally.
E-books and PDF: Archive.org, Rokomari, Google Books, and free PDFs are some websites that are bringing down the demand to buy physical books.
Audiobooks & Podcasts: Audible and Spotify are two companies that introduced a new method of reading. Listening is the way that people prefer to read.
Online Content & Social Media: TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube videos are becoming the competition to the book. Teenagers rather than buying books subscribe to storytelling YouTubers or read the summaries online.
6.3 Content Quality Problem: Over-Saturation with Low-Quality Books
One growing issue about the book fair is the lowering standard of literature. Most visitors complain that rather than being provided with intellectual books, the market is flooded with:
1.Self-published books that are minimally edited.
2.Overhyped books endorsed by social media influencers rather than actual writers.
3.Copy-paste “research” books without originality.
Reader Frustration: The readers are frustrated if they buy a shallow book that is poorly written. This lowers the readers’ confidence towards new writers because it compels them to stick to the established writers or not buy books.
6.4 Commercialization and Visitor Behaviour: The Selfie Fair Phenomenon
One amusing but reasonable criticism is that the book fair has turned into a photography zone rather than a bookstore.
Visitors prioritize photo-taking on nicely designed stalls rather than book shopping.
Some publishers invest more in decorating the stalls than advertising the books.
Influencers and social personalities visit the fair to blog rather than buying books.
This shift has led most sincere book readers to steer clear of the occasion because the masses overwhelm them but the books underwhelm them.
6.5 Pricing Policies: Are Price Cuts Deceptive?
Another factor that has irked book buyers is the difference between the home book market and the fair market price.
Books sold 20–25% off during the fair are typically available on street markets 50–70% off after the fair.
Some visitors, becoming aware of this pattern, wait to buy books because afterward they can find them cheaply.
This discourages fair-time purchasing, thus making less revenue during the fair.
6.6 External Drivers: COVID-19 Post-Effect & World Market Developments
The post-pandemic period has not gone easy on book fairs anywhere. Even the Frankfurt Book Fair, the Kolkata Book Fair, and the New York Book Expo experienced physical book sales going down.
The pandemic pushed readers to shift to digital formats.
Publishers worldwide are under pressure because of reduced print production and higher expenditure.
The Ekushey Book Fair is not immune to these international challenges, and the drop in its sales is one part of a greater trend.
7. Comparative Analysis: Ekushey versus Dhaka International Book Fair
While Ekushey Book Fair is the largest book fair in the nation, the new rival is the Dhaka International Book Fair (DIBF). What are the two fairs’ similarities?
The Ekushey Book Fair is based on cultural and emotional pull, but the DIBF is market-oriented. Publishers assert that international book fairs are more likely to offer opportunities to successful authors.
8. Future Prospects: Plans for Resurgence
Given the recent slump in sales, how to revive the Amar Ekushey Book Fair? Some practical solutions are:
8.1 Affordable Price & Transparency
Implement a standard pricing system to avoid excessive discounts within the fair.
Offer a discounted price to young readers.
Introduce a Book Return/Exchange Policy to Build Trust with the Buyer
8.2 Enhancing Book Quality
Stricter editing and publication criteria to guarantee superior books.
More emphasis on Bangladeshi literature to shift away from social media trends.
8.3 Digital Integration & Hybrid Book Fair Model
Launch an official Ekushey Book Fair app through which customers can browse through books, read reviews, and place orders online.
Introduce Augmented Reality (AR) window displays in bookstores to enhance the shopping experience.
Expand the social media life of the fair through book discussions, Q&As with writers, and live readings.
8.4 Reducing Commercialism & Encouraging Serious Readers
Implement a Code of Conduct for the Book Fair to manage unnecessary crowd movement and photography zones.
Restrict non-literary influencer promotions at stalls to refocus on books.
Provide quiet reading spaces within the fair where people can sit to read books.
8.5 Expansion to Other Cities
Currently, Ekushey Book Fair is based on Dhaka. Organizing regional book fairs in Chattogram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, and Khulna will open the readership and sales.
9. Conclusion: Turning the Page to a Better Chapter
The Ekushey Book Fair is not a book fair but an expression of the cultural and linguistic identity of the country. However, to stay current, the fair must adapt to address issues relevant to the modern times.
By making them low-cost but high-standard.
By integrating digital solutions
By ensuring that visitors’ behavior is consistent with its literature nature If the needful is done then instead of dwindling sales there will be a revival of book culture that will ensure that the love for books will be ageless. What do you think? Is the time for a book fair revolution?
