The number of books on the Language Movement available at the Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela is inadequate, considering that the fair is organised to commemorate the movement and its activists who made supreme sacrifices to establish the honour of Bangla on this day in 1952.

Every day, new books on short stories, novels, poetry, essays, translation, history, science fiction, travelogue, children’s literature and various other genres are published in the fair. However, it hardly witnesses the publication on the epoch-making movement and its activists.

Publishers have attributed this scarcity to a lack of writing and research on the topic.

Talking to the Daily Sun, Publisher of Ananya Prokashoni Monirul Hoque said they published books on the Language Movement in past but not this year.

“We did not receive any manuscript on the Language Movement this year. If we got any, we could publish. Now authors hardly write books on the topic as it requires thorough research and study,” he added.

Other publishers also shared similar experiences.

Publisher of Nalanda Jewel Redwan, who used to publish books on the Language Movement regularly, said, “We did not publish such books this year except for reprinting ‘Bhashar Lorai o Rashtrobhasha Andolan’ by Ghulam Quddus.”

Yet, some of the publishing houses have come up with new books on the Language Movement.

Oitijjhya has published five books on the Language Movement, including ‘Bhasha Shaheed Abul Barkat: Nepothyo Kotha’ by renowned writer and researcher Badruddoza Harun.

Other notable books include ‘Ekusher Smriti O Bhabna’ by the late poet Belal Chowdhury, ‘Ekusher 21 Golpo’ edited by Anwara Sayed Haq, featuring stories by eminent writers focusing on the Language Movement.

Two important figures of the Language Movement, Munier Choudhury and Zahir Raihan, are featured in ‘Dushprapyo Rochona’ and ‘Atmakotha O Anyanya Rochona’ respectively. These two books have been compiled and edited by Kazi Jahidul Haque.

Besides, Prothoma has brought ‘Ekusher Lekha Ekusher Anka’ by Murtaza Bashir and Jhingeful has come up with ‘Ekushey February Antorjatik Matribhasha Dibosh’ by Gazi Hanif.

‘Ekusher Chora-Kobita’ by Mafidul Islam from Pangkhiraj and ‘Praner Minar Shaheed Minar’ by Mohammad Nurul Huda from Educentric Publication are names of two more mentionable new books.

On the twentieth day of the book fair, a discussion programme titled “Remembrance: Jamal Nazrul Islam” was held at the main stage of the book fair at 4pm with Prof Abdul Mannan in the chair.

Science speaker Asif presented the keynote paper while Subrata Barua and Arshad Hossain were present as discussants.

Poet Atahar Khan, fictionist Mostafa Kamal, researcher Chowdhury Shaheed Kader and writer and mountaineer Imranul Hasan Shakil discussed their new books at the Lekhok Bolchi stage.

According to Bangla Academy, some 99 new books hit the stalls on the day.

Marking Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day, the gate of the fair will open at 8am and the fair will continue till 9pm. Besides, a programme on recitation of self-composed poems will begin at 8am at the main stage of the fair with poet Shamim Azad in the chair.

Today, on the 21st day of the fair, ‘Amar Ekushey Boktrita’ 2024 will be held on the main stage of the book fair at 4pm.

Bangla Academy Director General Mohammad Nurul Huda will deliver a welcome speech while eminent author Anwara Syed Haq will address the programme to be presided over by Bangla Academy President Selina Hossain.