A bittersweet farewell unfolded at Suhrawardy Udyan and Bangla Academy yesterday as the curtains fell on the 2024 Amar Ekushey Boi Mela. Hundreds of bookworms thronged the fairgrounds, a sight that has become synonymous with the month of February in Dhaka.
The plot sheds light on a privileged modern experience where time stands still, stopping the clock as the days and nights roll and go.
Uncertainty looms over holding the next edition of Amar Ekushey Boi Mela at Suhrawardy Udyan, as the government has decided to take over the ground for construction of a “cultural zone” called Sonar Bangla Sangskritik Boloy.
Most publishing companies in Bangladesh are not big enough for them to have a fully functioning marketing team or a viable marketing strategy.
According to the publishers, the classic horror books are among their best selling novels this year.
For most of the publishers, pavilion planning commenced as early as mid January and the organisers left no stone unturned in terms of planning the layout.
If you walked towards Suhrawardy Udyan yesterday, you could feel the excitement in the air. The ambience would easily catch your attention and show that it’s a special occasion -- Ekushey February.
Wandering through the bustling lanes of Boi Mela, amidst the cacophony of voices and the rustle of pages turning, I found myself lost in a curious examination of the Bangla love story.
Boi Mela is more than a clickable link we see on our phone screens; it is more than the controversies and public debates.
Both the Dhaka Lit Fest and Ekushey Boi Mela offer sobering insights into the underlying socioeconomic challenges that have hamstrung Bangla publishing.
50 years pass but Tanes still carries Zohra's photograph and letter in his chest pocket.
How are publications, writers and readers coping with rising costs?
Historical fiction, romance, essays, and travelogues.
Char Goyenda Mohabipode, the 52nd book by author and journalist, Shah Alam Shazu, is being published in this year’s Ekushey Boi Mela by Anannya. The book consists of five stories whose themes mainly centre around detectives, horror, mystery and adventure.
As February approaches, writers are gearing up for this year’s Ekushey Boi Mela, in hopes of publishing their books and interacting with fans. Like every year, several celebrities are also busy with publishing and promoting their new books.
The worst part in the academy's attempt to clear the air is the admission in its statement that it had not read the alleged offending book before deciding to exclude its publisher from the exhibition.
Bangladesh needs to formulate a national book policy, as well as a comprehensive bibliography policy, alongside guidelines for the rights of authors and publishers, for contracts, and higher standards for editing and translating.
In the last two years, Amar Ekushey Boi Mela has been marred by fears, delays, and uncertainties caused by the pandemic. However, Bangla Academy hopes that this year’s book fair will return to its former glory with life getting back on track.
Eminent actor and Ekushey Padak awardee Abul Hayat is also a renowned writer. Besides regularly writing stellar columns on the newspapers, he is also a published author. His novels and books have been published every year on a regular basis. .The artiste’s new novel ‘Ronjito Godhuli’ will
