Leading publishers pull out of Ekushey Book Fair

A group of major book publishing houses, "Prakashak Oikyo", have announced their withdrawal from the upcoming Amar Ekushey Boimela, citing "disrespectful" and "dubious" planning by the government authorities.

The group also asserted that it by no means stands against the fair or the newly elected government, but expects the government to swiflty and seriously consider their demands for protecting the publishing industry.

In a statement issued late on Saturday, the group demanded that the authorities cancel pavilion reservations for all publishers in the fair, and instead allot stalls for everyone, for ensuring a fair contest. 

It alleged that some "low-quality" publishing houses would likely complete their pavilion constructions before the fair starts owing to the "early and unhealthy advantage" they had secured, while the others cannot do so due to time constraints.

Furthermore, the authorities, including Bangla Academy, have yet to allocate specific sites for the publishers to set up stalls at the designated venues.

The publishers need sufficient time to construct make-shift stalls, connect power lines, wait for the colours to dry, and decorate the stalls. However, with only the three days in hand, the authorities have not even allocated specific locations for stall set-up through lottery, making it impossible for the publishers to join the fair, they said.

The group said it includes 90% of front-row and mainstream publishing houses including: Ahmad Publishing House, Kakoli, Ananya, Anna Prakash, Adorn, Kathaprakash, Batighar Prakashani, Prathama, Rhythm, Laboni, Panjeree Publications, Iti Prakashan, University Press Ltd, and Adarsha Prakashani.

The group, which claims to represent around 300 small and big publishers in total, attributed the consistent delays and unclarity on part of the authorities to the "unjust" provisions, like early pavilion reservations, afforded to the "low-quality houses."

Setting up a pavilion requires at least 10 days, which most leading houses do not have. However, the "low-quality houses" are on track as they started early by not joining the previous boycott movement launched by the "majority of publishing houses, including the leading ones."

On 18 February, in a meeting between government officials and the publishers, newly elected Cultural Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury proposed remitting rents for the publishers to allay their concerns of financial losses during the month of Ramadan.

At that time, the publishers were protesting against the decision to hold the fair during Ramadan citing concerns that visitor turnout will be low in the month of fasting, which in turn would cause financial losses.

Follwoing the minister's proposal, the major houses agreed to withdraw their movement on the condition that no pavilion will be allowed in the fair. Allowing the "first movers" to continue with well-furnished pavilions would leave others with only stalls, creating an unequal competition, they said, adding that the Bangla Academy chief agreed.

Rather, all the publishers must be alloted a stall of maximum five units, and nothing more, the major houses demanded.

The government officials agreed to meet the demand, but surprisingly, failed to mention this outcome in post-meeting press statements, the group said in its Saturday statement.

Yet, the publishers kept waiting for a nod. However, on Saturday evening, the cultural secretary phoned them to inform that the already built and under-construction pavilions cannot be removed.

He requested the publishers to join the fair anyway with their stalls. 

This disrespected them, they alleged. It was also humiliating for them to learn that the "low-quality" houses would get their pavilions "rent-free" for a protest they did not participate.

Furthermore, the authorities also had so far failed to hold a lottery for alloting stall locations for different publishers.

With only three days in hand, the persistent state of limbo became untenable for them, they said, adding they were forced to abandon the fair preparations.