Dhaka Divisional Book Fair ended amidst the need for more visibility

The Dhaka Divisional Book Fair, organised by Jatiya Grantha Kendra in association with the district administration and supported by Bangladesh Publishers and Booksellers Association, took place in the Bangla Academy premises. The book fair was patronised by the cultural affairs ministry and featured around 100 stalls, including 65 stalls by independent publishers and some by government institutions from different districts. Before, divisional book fairs were organised in Rajshahi, Mymensingh, and Barisal as part of the government's efforts to encourage reading habits among younger generations.

Publishers Dhaka Divisional Book Fair offered their books at a discounted price, and there were several panel discussion sessions to enlighten the young readers. Being among the first ones to arrive during my visit, I saw school and college students who came to visit the fair with their teachers.

However, despite the noble endeavour, the fair lacked visibility among the target audience. Most of the students from Dhaka University did not know about the fair and simply happened to pass by. "We were at TSC when we saw posters and decided to drop by. It has been a good experience, and I had fun exploring the district stalls with my friends", shared Disha, a visitor. The lack of visibility, unfortunately, translated into slow sales for the publishers. "The footfall has been very disappointing, and the few people who visit do not even look at the stalls properly. We have been here for almost a week, and the situation has been the same" one of the booksellers noted. Hence, with fewer visitors making their way to the fair, the stalls remained relatively empty for much of the event.

There is no question about the need for greater visibility for cultural significance. Moreover, the role that the media plays in promoting such events cannot be overstated. However, the Dhaka Divisional Book Fair 2023 struggled to garner significant media coverage, hence literary enthusiasts found themselves unaware of the fair even taking place. "The fair definitely lacked media support, and this explains the reduced footfall. While we were optimistic initially, the present state has been disappointing", shared Mitia Osman, a publisher.

The eight-day long Dhaka Divisional Book Fair began on the Bangla Academy premises on October 7, and ended on October 14. The next divisional book fair will be held in Chittagong.

Maisha Islam Monamee is a contributing writer for Arts & Entertainment and Star Youth.