Readers Stroll and Select Books Freely

For several years, the book fair at Bangla Academy and the Sohrwardi Udyan area has been synonymous with traffic congestion, crowds, and hectic commotion. This year, however, the atmosphere has shifted, largely due to the fair coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan. On Saturday, a public holiday, visitor turnout increased noticeably, yet the feared overcrowding was largely absent. Readers were able to wander comfortably, exploring and purchasing books at their leisure.

One such visitor was Kaushik Chakraborty, a fifth-grade student from Shahrashti, Chandpur, who attended the fair with his father, Keshab Chakraborty. After purchasing several adolescent novels by Muhammed Zafar Iqbal and a few horror stories, Kaushik expressed his delight at experiencing the fair for the first time. “It’s wonderful to see so many books in one place,” he said.

The Dhaka Comics stall attracted considerable attention as well. Children and adults alike were browsing and purchasing comics. Parth Kund, a software engineer from Shahjadpur, came to the fair to buy comics for his younger siblings. Initially, he visited the Little Magazine quadrant to pick up a few periodicals, before heading to the comics section. “I normally read foreign comics,” he explained, “but after reading the Dhaka Comics’ series on Bangladesh Liberation heroes, I was impressed. I wanted my siblings to experience them too.”

Shantona, a sales associate at Dhaka Comics, reported that aside from the popular “Sangshoptok,” titles like “Zoom,” “Mahaakase Prani,” and “Chronicles of Allen Swapan” were among the bestsellers. The stall has drawn readers of all ages.

Similarly, the UPL stall saw a steady flow of young buyers. AKM Kamruzzaman, the senior assistant manager, highlighted that Feroz Ahmed’s translation of Richard Eaton’s The Rise of Islam and the Bengal Frontier (1204–1760) and Israel Khan’s edited volume Hindu–Muslim Relations in Periodicals (1901–47) were particularly well-received. UPL’s Managing Director, Mahruq Mohiuddin, added that despite logistical challenges, participating in the fair reflects respect for government guidelines. He emphasised the importance of integrated planning for future fairs to enhance their economic and cultural impact.

At the Prothoma stall, readers of various ages gathered around, purchasing titles such as Syed Abul Maksud’s Bhasanicharit, Sirajul Islam Chowdhury’s The 1971 Uprising and the Question of People’s Liberation, Kamruddin Ahmed’s Memoirs of a Middle-Class Bengali, and Duke John’s young adult horror The Curse of Nawab Bari. At Onnodharar stall, readers crowded around the works of storyteller Sadat Hossain, expressing hope that future fair schedules would consider Ramadan timings.

Yunus Alam, in-charge at Kothaprakash, noted that initial concerns over reduced attendance due to Ramadan had been largely alleviated, with visitor numbers rising over the past two days. According to Bangla Academy, 185 new titles were released on Saturday, including Essays on the July Uprising edited by Mohammed Azam.

Popular Titles and Publications

Notable among the literary releases, Jasimuddin: Beyond Modernity by Kudrat-e-Huda examines the poet’s journey amid colonial modernity, portraying how he became a voice for the masses while maintaining artistic integrity. The book situates Jasimuddin’s life in a broader historical and cultural context, highlighting his enduring uniqueness despite prevailing Western influences.

Kudrat-e-Huda, a researcher and essayist born in Faridpur in 1978, has an extensive academic background with degrees from Dhaka University, including PhD, and currently serves at the National Curriculum and Textbook Board. His research interests include cultural politics, historiography, and post-colonial studies. He has received the Mahakabi Madhusudan Award 2023 for his contributions to Bengali literary scholarship.