Bangla Academy revises pavilion, stall allocation amid criticism

Bangla Academy has finally revised its pavilion and stall allocation plan in the face of severe criticism for excluding some of the top publishers from the list of pavilion recipients.

The new decision was taken at the 4th meeting of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025 Organising Committee held on Wednesday.

The development comes after a platform of publishers submitted a memorandum to the Bangla Academy terming the previous decision "wrong and unjust".

According to the new decision, Agamee Prokashoni and Anyaprokash have got premium pavilions just like the previous years.

Besides, it has been decided to allot pavilions to Pathak Shamabesh, Puthiniloy Publication, Somoy Prakashan and Nalonda instead of the stalls allocated previously.

Agamee Prokashoni and Anyaprokash have both received an expanded space, with their pavilion sizes increased from 20/20 feet to 24/24 feet.

Apart from this, Kakoli Prokashoni, Pathak Shamabesh, Puthiniloy Publication, Somoy Prakashan have got 20/20 foot pavilions against stalls of four units.

Besides, 20/20 foot pavilions have been allocated to Nalonda which got four-stall units and Shobdoshaili which got three-unit stalls as per the earlier decision.

Genius Publications, which got a stall of three units in the previous decision, has been given a stall of four units. And Janata Prakash and Mayurapankhi were allotted stalls of two units in the earlier decision at Shishu Chattar. They have been given three units of stalls.

The meeting was presided over by Prof Mohammad Azam, chairman of the Book Fair Organising Committee and Director General of Bangla Academy.

Asked about the decision, Member Secretary of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025 Organising Committee Dr Sarker Amin said, "The overall situation of the book fair and the issue of stall and pavilion allocation to ensure greater inclusion of publishers were discussed extensively at the meeting. A new decision regarding the allotment of pavilions and stalls has been taken unanimously."

"The new decision hasn’t yet been communicated with us. And pavilions haven’t been allocated to all the publishers who were excluded earlier. When we come to know about the details, we’ll be able to clear our stand," Agamee Prokashoni Publisher Osman Gani told the Daily Sun when contacted.

Earlier, the Bangla Academy, organiser of the month-long festivity scheduled to begin on 1 February, revoked pavilion allocations for 14 publishers and reduced the areas for three publications, which were accused of publishing books on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members and securing undue privileges during the autocratic Sheikh Hasina's rule through a couple of newly formed organisations of publishers.

Besides, Journeyman Books, which was allocated a pavilion at last year's fair, has not been granted even a stall this year.