The Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2021 will take place from March 18 to April 14 following health guidelines, and publishers will have to deposit money for booking stalls between January 31 and February 4.

The book fair, which is traditionally held from February 1, has been delayed this year due to the on-going COVID-19 crisis.

The decision on the book fair’s duration was made at a meeting of the fair organising committee held at Bangla Academy on Thursday.

Bangla Academy director and member secretary of the fair organising committee, Jalal Ahmed, confirmed the matter to New Age.

‘The Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2021 will be held from March 18 to April 14 following health guidelines. Publishers will be able to deposit money for booking stalls from January 31 to February 4. We will later finalise how many stalls will be allocated to publishing houses,’ said Jalal Ahmed.

‘Besides, We will organise ancillary events like Lekhak Balchhi, Shishu Chattar, Children Hour and others following health guidelines at the fair,’ Jalal Ahmed added.

Academic and Creative Publisher’s Association of Bangladesh president and the owner of Somoy Prakashan Farid

Ahmed said, ‘We welcome Bangla Academy’s move to arrange the fair. We are now thinking how we can participate in the fair following health guidelines.’

The book fair began its journey on the Bangla Academy premises informally in 1972, and it became institutionalised in 1978. The fair was named Amar Ekushey

Granthamela and a guideline for it was formulated in 1984.