The very first edition of eight-day long Bangla literature festival and book fair, featuring Bengali books published from Bangladesh and India, will begin in Dhaka on October 27.
The festival and fair, jointly organised by Bangladesh publishers and booksellers association and publishers and booksellers guild, Kolkata from October 27 to November 3, will provide access to the readers in Bangladesh to a wide variety of literarily works from the both countries.
Local and Indian publishers took the decision in a meeting between the association and guild’s representatives held at Bangladesh publishers and booksellers association office in Dhaka on Thursday.
International book fair standing committee convener Mazharul Islam presided over the meeting and said that association and guild agreed in 2019 to organise the fair in Bangladesh and Kolkata.
‘It is unfortunate that publishers from Kolkata could not participate in the book fair in Bangladesh. This initiative will create opportunity for both to exchange rich literary works published from Bangladesh and India,’ said Mazharul Islam.
Publishers and booksellers guild, Kolkata president Shri Sudhangshu Sekhar Dey and general secretary Shri Tridib Kumar Chatterjee, Bangladesh publishers and booksellers association vice-president Shamal Paul, directors Mesbahuddin Ahmed, Amirul Islam, Nesar Uddin Ayub, among others, were present at the meeting.
Guild’s general secretary Shri Tridib Kumar said that interactive session between the writers of the two countries would enrich them.
The festival and fair will also feature discussion sessions, seminars and cultural programmes.
‘There is a high demand of Indian books in Bangladesh. The fair will create opportunity for Bangladeshi book lovers to buy their favourite books,’ said the association’s advisor Osman Gani.
Bangla literature festival and book fair in Kolkata will be held in 2024, said the publishers.
