Grantha Mela 2021: Application submission deadline Sep 30

Bangla Academy has sought applications from book publishing houses to join the 2021 Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela.

The deadline for the submission of applications is September 30, according to a press release signed by Director of Bangla Academy Dr Jalal Ahmed.

The application form is also available on the Bangla Academy website (www.ba21bookfair.com).

Only publishing houses that participated in the 2020 Grantha Mela may apply this year. No new publishing houses may apply this year, it added.

Dr Jalal Ahmed said Bangla Academy wants to host the Grantha Mela even amid the novel coronavirus situation, maintaining health guidelines.

About the new houses, he said the academy has requested publishing houses which had stalls at the book fair last time to send initial interest letters to participate in the 2021 book fair.

It will decide about the new houses after receiving applications from old ones, he added.

Additionally, no institutions may apply for an increased stall size from the one they received at the 2020 Book Fair, but may reduce the size of the stall if they want to.

As nobody knows about the novel coronavirus situation, the academy is highly concerned about health issues and has emphasised it aims to maintain health guidelines to prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading.

The academy also requested all to accept all decisions considering the Covid-19 situation.