Tk 47cr books sold at Ekushey Book Fair

Md Moniruzzaman :
The month-long largest Amar Ekushey Book Fair ended on Tuesday with a large number of book lovers collecting their favourite books and enjoying the fair.
Ekushey Book Fair Organising Committee Member Secretary KM Mujahidul Islam disclosed the figure of this year’s sales in the closing ceremony and said that books worth about Tk 47 crore were sold in the fair.
The academy itself sold books worth Tk 1.24 crore where it was 1.35 crore in 2022.
 Though the highest number of organizations took part in this year’s fair, the amounts of book sales are relatively lower than previous years.
 A total of 3,750 new titles published in this book fair where it was 3,416 in 2022 with estimated turnover of Tk 52 crore while 2,640 books were launched in 2021 and 4,919 books in 2020 with estimated turnover of Tk 82 crore.
 “It is not an exact figure as per see. Bangla Academy representatives distributed form in every stall for collecting the information of book sales but we could not collect any information from a large number of stalls. And the information of some traditionally renowned and vibrant publishing houses are not realistic,” KM Mujahidul Islam said.
 A number of sixty three lakh fifty three thousand and 463 visitors came to the Book Fair in the last 27 days counted by entrance gates archway, according to the Bangla Academy.
Bangla Academy Director General Mohammad Nurul Huda delivered the welcome speech while State minister for cultural affairs KM Khalid attended the closing ceremony as the chief guest presided over by the academy’s president Selina Hossain.
“After waiting eleven months, we get this month. This fair was better and successful than any other previous years’ fair” KM Khalid said.
Thanking to all, the state minister said, “This year the readers, visitors, publishers and salesmen who came to the fair were smart enough. A book fair is a place where everyone can meet regardless of party affiliation. These scenes had with everyone.”
Bangla Academy distributed awards in four categories to seven publishing houses and the chief guest handed over the awards.
Agamee Prokashani has been given Chittaranjan Saha Smriti Purasker 2023 for publishing a maximum number of quality books in terms of subject and quality.
 Journeyman Books, Oitijjho Publication and Panjeree Publication have been given Munir Chowdhury Smriti Purasker 2023 for publishing best books in terms of artistic and quality.
 Moyur pakhi Publication has been given Rokonuzzaman Khan Dadabhai Smriti Purasker 2023 for publishing the highest number of quality books for kids.
 Puthiniloy Publication, Nabanno Prokashoni and Urkhi Publication received Qayyum Chowdhury Smriti Purasker 2023 for best interior designs which were aesthetically rich among the participating publishing houses.