Book Fair ends with publishers counting losses
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Tuesday
February 07, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 07, 2023
Book Fair ends with publishers counting losses

Bangladesh

Faijullah Wasif
12 April, 2021, 10:00 pm
Last modified: 12 April, 2021, 10:07 pm

Related News

  • Ending the austerity pandemic
  • Asian shares head for worst month since pandemic started
  • Recovery in youth employment is still lagging: ILO
  • Atiur Rahman receives Bangla Academy Rabindra Award
  • Tk52.50cr books sold in Ekushey Book Fair this year

Book Fair ends with publishers counting losses

 Many publishers are claiming to be forced to use their savings to meet the cost of paying sales staff, stall construction and decoration

Faijullah Wasif
12 April, 2021, 10:00 pm
Last modified: 12 April, 2021, 10:07 pm
Photo: TBS
Photo: TBS

Ekushey Boi Mela-2021 concluded on Monday, two days earlier than the previously announced date, with publishers claiming huge losses.

The decision to hold the fair amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic had brought some relief to the publishers, as it is considered one of their most profitable occasions for their business. But, in the end they are left out with massive losses due to plummeting sales, with some claiming sales below 20%.

The number of publications fell dramatically as well.

 According to data by Bangla Academy, a total of 2,640 books have been published in this year's book fair, including 64 books published on the last day. Last year, the number of published books was 4,919.

Many publishers are claiming to be forced to use their savings to meet the cost of paying sales staff, stall construction and decoration.

Touhidul Islam Pranta, stall in-charge of Anya Prokash, said, "Compared to last year, we did only 12% business this year. You can't even think of raising costs with it."

 "In addition, due to various incoherence, including lockdown, the cost of transportation for 25 workers has doubled. Overall, it was not possible to raise the cost. Discussions are underway on how to pay the staff's dues," he added.

Terming this year's fair a book fair of maintaining continuity, Farid Ahmed, president of Bangladesh Gyan O Srijonshil Prokashak Samiti, said, "We wanted the fair to maintain that continuity in the golden jubilee year of independence. But the publishers themselves might not have wanted the book fair if they had known that this would happen."

 Asked about the amount of loss in the fair, he said, "According to Bangla Academy, last year's book fair had a turnover of Tk85 crore. This time it will be around Tk12 to 15 crore. This time, only a few stalls have done business worth Tk10 lakh."

Farid said publishers want the government to buy books from them in order to recover the loss.

"We are not seeking loan facilities like other sectors. We want the government to buy books from us and keep the publishers afloat. There are various government departments where books are needed. The government can do it if it wants."

Initially, publishers were optimistic about the crowd of book-lovers coming to the fair. However, as the Covid-19 situation intensified across the country, sales started to fall. Publishers are blaming the early closure of stalls for their loss.

Sales Executive of The University Press Limited (UPL) Md Jarif Hossain said, there has been some sales during the final days. But sales plummeted in the earlier days.

"We came and left with no buyers coming. The fair closed at such a time when everyone usually comes," he said.

In the face of such a situation, several publications have closed their stalls during the lockdown.

"Although we didn't have to close our stalls, we failed to sell one-fifth of the last year's sale amount," he added.

Among the state-run publications, several stalls of Bangla Academy and their permanent sales outlets have sold books worth Tk44.64 lakh at this year's book fair [excluding the last day].

Ratan Kumar Banik, stall in-charge at a government publications and sell centre, owned by the Department of Printing and Publishing, said, "Last year I sold books worth more than Tk2 lakh on the occasion of the book fair. This year, I sold books worth only Tk30,000, while it cost Tk55,000 to complete the stall."

Amar Ekushey Boi Mela, usually held in February, was postponed till late March this year considering the Covid-19 situation in the country. After a long delay the fair began from 18 March with plans to conclude on 14 April. However, amid the rise in Covid-19 infections in the country it ended two days ago on Monday.

Top News

ekushey boi mela / Bangla Academy / Covid-19 pandemic

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Infographic: TBS
    FDI from US halves after sanctions
  • Muhammet Ruzgar, 5, is carried out by rescuers from the site of a damaged building, following an earthquake in Hatay, Turkey, February 7, 2023. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
    Rescue workers 'exhausted' as earthquake deaths cross 5,000 in Turkey, Syria
  • Photo: TBS
    BNP to hold march programmes in Dhaka on 9 and 12 February

MOST VIEWED

  • Bangladesh's GDP growth to stay below pre-pandemic level even in FY27: IMF
    Bangladesh's GDP growth to stay below pre-pandemic level even in FY27: IMF
  • Second terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka/Photo- Zia Chowdhury/TBS
    Dhaka airport flights to remain suspended for 5 hours every night for 2 months
  • Photo: TBS
    Basecamp launched at Foy’s Lake in Ctg
  • Photo: Screenshot
    ChatGPT explains why a country seeks IMF loan
  • Hero Alom. Photo: Collected
    Hero Alom defeated in Bogura-4 by-poll by 834 votes
  • Consumers should pay actual costs to get gas, electricity: PM
    Consumers should pay actual costs to get gas, electricity: PM

Related News

  • Ending the austerity pandemic
  • Asian shares head for worst month since pandemic started
  • Recovery in youth employment is still lagging: ILO
  • Atiur Rahman receives Bangla Academy Rabindra Award
  • Tk52.50cr books sold in Ekushey Book Fair this year

Features

Nimah designed by Compass Architects- Wooden tiles. Photo: Junaid Hasan Pranto

Trendy flooring designs to upgrade any space

6h | Habitat
Benefits of having high ceilings in your new home

Benefits of having high ceilings in your new home

6h | Habitat
Each Reverse Osmosi plant can produce approximately 8,000 litres of drinking water a day for around 250 families. Photo: Sadiqur Rahman

A drop in the ocean of persistent water crisis

7h | Panorama
Photo: Collected

Get your partner a lovely present this Valentine's Day

1d | Brands

More Videos from TBS

Challenging time waiting for RMG

Challenging time waiting for RMG

5h | TBS Round Table
"Full Moon Meditation" organized by Department of Theater and Performance Studies, University of Dhaka

"Full Moon Meditation" organized by Department of Theater and Performance Studies, University of Dhaka

5h | TBS Graduates
10 cricketers who have played over 400 T20 matches

10 cricketers who have played over 400 T20 matches

5h | TBS SPORTS
Harry Kane sets two record in one goal

Harry Kane sets two record in one goal

5h | TBS SPORTS

Most Read

1
Photo: Courtesy
Panorama

From 'Made in Bangladesh' to 'Designed in Bangladesh'

2
Leepu realised his love for cars from a young age and for the last 40 years, he has transformed, designed and customised hundreds of cars. Photo: Collected
Panorama

'I am not crazy about cars anymore': Nizamuddin Awlia Leepu

3
Master plan for futuristic Chattogram city in the making
Districts

Master plan for futuristic Chattogram city in the making

4
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo
Economy

IMF approves $4.7 billion loan for Bangladesh, calls for ambitious reforms

5
Belal Ahmed new acting chairman of SIBL
Banking

Belal Ahmed new acting chairman of SIBL

6
Photo: Collected
Crime

Prime Distribution MD Mamun arrested in fraud case

EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]