Amar Ekushey Book Fair planning has hit a public dispute over timing. A group of publishers urged a postponement because Ramadan would overlap key sales days. Bangla Academy has responded that the Amar Ekushey Book Fair will begin on February 20 as scheduled.
What is being disputed
The Amar Ekushey Book Fair is Bangladesh’s biggest annual publishing event. It is also a major cash window for local presses. That is why the date matters.
In early February, a section of publishers asked authorities to move the Amar Ekushey Book Fair to after Eid-ul-Fitr. They argued that Ramadan footfall patterns, plus production constraints, could damage already thin margins. One report said the request was made on behalf of hundreds of publishers. (The Business Standard: https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/section-publishers-calls-ekushey-book-fair-be-held-after-eid-ul-fitr-1350501)
Publishers also set a clear deadline for a decision. They said uncertainty forces risky print commitments and disrupts marketing plans. New Age reported they asked for a call by February 5 to protect industry stability. (New Age: https://www.newagebd.net/post/literature/290079/publishers-want-ekushey-book-fair-rescheduled)
Bangla Academy’s position: “as scheduled”
Bangla Academy has signaled it is not considering a deferral. On February 5, Bangla Academy Director General Prof. Mohammad Azam said the Amar Ekushey Book Fair would go ahead on February 20. Several outlets reported the same message after a press briefing. (The Financial Express: https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/ekushey-book-fair-to-begin-on-feb-20-reaffirms-bangla-academy ; Jago News 24: https://www.jagonews24.com/en/national/news/89616)
Bangla Academy and major dailies have also carried the official schedule. Dhaka Tribune reported the Amar Ekushey Book Fair will run from February 20 to March 15, with the opening ceremony at 11 a.m. (Dhaka Tribune: https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/398963/ekushey-book-fair-2026-to-kick-off-on-feb-20)
The Daily Star and Prothom Alo also reported the same dates in December after an emergency meeting at Bangla Academy. (The Daily Star: https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/ekushey-book-fair-2026-begin-february-20-4060726 ; Prothom Alo: https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/vl03w8ncep)
Timeline that explains the friction
The Amar Ekushey Book Fair date has already moved once, which raised sensitivity.
Earlier schedule changes
In September 2025, Bangla Academy postponed a pre-scheduled Amar Ekushey Book Fair date and said a new plan would follow after consultations. (BSS: https://www.bssnews.net/news/316391)
By mid-December, Bangla Academy confirmed the revised plan: the Amar Ekushey Book Fair would begin February 20 and run through March 15. Reports linked the shift to election timing and logistics. (The Daily Star: https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/ekushey-book-fair-2026-begin-february-20-4060726)
Publisher pushback in late January and early February
In late January, bdnews24.com reported publishers asked to postpone the Amar Ekushey Book Fair until after Eid-ul-Fitr. Their stated reason included printing capacity, with presses tied up by election work. (bdnews24.com: https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/524ff96f08e8)
In early February, the push became more public through press conferences and statements carried by national outlets. (New Age: https://www.newagebd.net/post/literature/290079/publishers-want-ekushey-book-fair-rescheduled)
Why the Amar Ekushey Book Fair timing matters
The Amar Ekushey Book Fair is not only cultural. It is commercial infrastructure.
Publisher cashflow and print decisions
Most publishers build their largest release slate for the Amar Ekushey Book Fair. A date shift changes when they must pay printers, designers, and editors. It also changes when they can collect cash from retail sales.
If the fair runs deep into Ramadan, publishers fear fewer long visits and weaker impulse buying. Even if total attendance holds, spending patterns can change. That can squeeze small presses that depend on the fair’s first-week rush.
Sponsorship and the “event economy” signal
Sponsors and advertisers plan by calendar. A disputed date injects planning risk for brands, media partners, and venue logistics. The Amar Ekushey Book Fair also pulls spending into nearby businesses, from food stalls to transport.
That is why the dispute is a proxy for wider event-economy strain. When big events wobble, smaller cultural events often follow.
What to watch next
The next two weeks will shape how the Amar Ekushey Book Fair performs.
Operational readiness: publisher allotments, stall build-out, and security planning.
Book release pipeline: whether presses can deliver new titles on time.
Ramadan overlap effects: footfall timing and per-visitor spending patterns.
For now, the official line remains firm: the Amar Ekushey Book Fair starts February 20 and runs until March 15. (Dhaka Tribune: https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/398963/ekushey-book-fair-2026-to-kick-off-on-feb-20 ; The Financial Express: https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/ekushey-book-fair-to-begin-on-feb-20-reaffirms-bangla-academy)