Dhaka Lit Fest tickets to go on sale soon

Yesterday, on December 25, Dhaka Literary Festival announced via their social media that tickets to the event will be released soon.

A registration fee will be charged this year, with general admission costing BDT 500 for a day and BDT 1,500 for four days. Students will pay a discounted rate of BDT 200 for one day and BDT 500 for four days.

DLF are also selling VIP tickets for BDT 3,000 for a day and BDT 10,000 for four days. VIPs will enjoy the added privilege of VIP ID cards, a separate VIP queue to enter the festival, access to a VIP Lounge with dining (which includes lunch), and a VIP car pass for free parking.

Entry is free for children under 12.

The announcement comes amidst mixed reactions from interested visitors.

Some attendees have raised questions over why one would hesitate to pay for a literary event if they already spend money on watching films and going to restaurants. Students, however, have expressed opposing views. 

One comment reads, "It could be free for all. Students don't get enough literary events to participate in this country. It could be a path breaking event to create passion among young minds for language and literature."

In an interview with Daily Star Books, DLF Producer and Director Sadaf Saaz explained that having a registration fee for the event "would help make it more sustainable."

"We all deeply value literature and culture. And it's not cheap. Artists have to be paid. Hardly one or two people in Bangladesh can survive financially as writers", she shared. 

The DLF Directors have clarified that all visitors, regardless of the category of passes, will get equal access to seats at the sessions. The decision to charge a fee this time arises from the need to support the event at a time when sponsor funds are less than expected, and festival costs have risen due to the Ukraine war. 

"We can't continue to do it otherwise", Sadaf Saaz said. "We either want to do a high quality festival or not do it at all."

Kazi Anis Ahmed, Dhaka Tribune publisher and also a Director of DLF, pointed out, "If you go to the Hay Festival, each session would have a charge of 50-25 pounds, and 50-100 pounds for big name authors." 

Pointing out that the DLF is a non-profit venture, he added, "We feel that the audience members who love the DLF so much should be part of the supportive ecosystem. They should take ownership of it along with us, and express that value in a substantive way."