Tripura: Bangladeshi publishers likely to skip 44th Agartala Book Fair

Agartala: Bangladeshi publishing houses are unlikely to participate in Tripura's 44th Agartala Book Fair, scheduled to begin on January 2.

According to the organisers, no applications have been received from across the border for the second consecutive year.

The 13-day-long fair will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Manik Saha at the Hapania International Fair Ground. This year’s edition is themed around the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, Director of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department Bimbisar Bhattacharjee said.

Preparations for the fair were in full swing on Thursday, with publishers and booksellers from Tripura and other parts of the country arriving to set up stalls.

The annual event is considered a major cultural attraction, drawing readers of all ages and turning the venue into a hub of literary and cultural activities.

Organisers acknowledged that the growing popularity of e-commerce platforms has impacted book fairs in recent years, as readers increasingly opt for online purchases due to competitive discounts.

However, they maintained that book fairs continue to offer a unique space for readers to come together and celebrate reading as a collective cultural experience, while promoting knowledge and intellectual exchange.

Bhattacharjee said the number of stalls this year is expected to surpass last year’s figure. While 180 stalls were set up in the previous edition, applications have already crossed 183 this year.

A series of cultural programmes will be held throughout the fair, with dedicated slots for indigenous and classical performers.

On the absence of Bangladeshi publishers, the ICA Director said applications for stalls are invited every year, but no submissions have been received from Bangladesh-based publishing houses since last year, although they had participated regularly in earlier editions.

Bangladesh has been witnessing political unrest since August 2024, following a student-led uprising and the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The neighbouring country is yet to have a democratically elected government, and bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh have reportedly suffered under the interim administration, which may have contributed to the absence of Bangladeshi publishers from the fair.