Bookworms will have to dig deeper into their wallets this year compared to last year when purchasing books at the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela (Book Fair).
Publishers set to participate in the country’s biggest book fair, which is scheduled to begin today, have stated that they have no option but to raise book prices due to the high cost of paper.
According to them, the price of paper has risen by 10%-15% in the last six months. The cost of a ream of paper, which was Tk2,500 and Tk3,200 earlier, has now increased to Tk2,700 and Tk3,400, respectively.
As a result, they have raised the price of books.
Mazharul Islam, CEO of Anyaprokash, said that the price of books would increase by at least 10% to 15% this time.
“Books will be 10% to 15% costlier this year. The price of books was already high, and this latest hike will put extra pressure on readers’ wallets. But we have no alternative,” he added.
Some publishers have reduced the number of copies to be published for the month-long fair at the Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan premises in the capital.
“We had to make careful calculations before deciding on the number of new books. Normally, we print 50-70 new books ahead of every Ekushey Book Fair, but this time we are bringing only 30-40 new books due to the high cost of paper,” said Syed Zakir Hussain, editor, publisher, and CEO of Adorn Publication, in an interview with the Daily Sun.
“The price of books will undoubtedly go up. However, we have tried to keep the price affordable for our readers,” he added.
In addition to new books, the prices of old books that will be reprinted this year will also increase.
One of Bangladesh’s oldest creative book publishers, Mowla Brothers, reprints numerous books every year to satisfy its readers. However, this year, the company has altered its plans due to the rising cost of paper.
Ahmed Mahmudul Haque, publisher at Mowla Brothers, said, “It was necessary to reprint many of our old books as they were out of stock. But I have only reprinted half of them. We are fixing new prices, and I am unsure whether readers will be willing to buy them.”
Arifur Rahman Nayeem, adviser to the Bangladesh Creative Publishers’ Association, said the price of paper used for creative books has risen from Tk1,35,000 per tonne to Tk1,50,000. This will undoubtedly affect the business of publishers during the book fair.
He added that every year, publishers bring around 5,000 books worth Tk700-800 crore to the book fair, but this year, the number will drop to 3,000-3,500 books worth Tk500 crore.
Printing press owners and workers in Bangla Bazar are usually busy just before each book fair, but this year, they are experiencing a different situation.
“Besides the price of paper, the cost of printing plates and boards has also increased. In such circumstances, publishers are being more cautious this year. As a result, we are receiving fewer orders. We hope that once the fair begins, readers will buy books, and publishers will come to us for more printing,” said Kalim Sarker, owner of Mahmud Printers in Bangla Bazar.
With the reduction in the number and sale of books, the amount of royalties for authors will also decrease.
Novelist and short story writer Swakrito Noman said, “Many authors rely on the royalties from their books, and their books sell most during the book fair. Therefore, the high price of paper will undoubtedly have a heavy toll on them.”
Little magazines, which play a significant role in strengthening literary practices and fostering writers, will also be affected by the high price of paper. Furthermore, the dreams of several new authors who publish books independently may be dashed this time.
When asked about their situation, Noman said, “The number and volume of little magazines will decrease, and publishers will be less willing to take risks by bringing books from new authors. Therefore, new or lesser-known authors will face tough challenges at this year’s book fair.”
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is scheduled to inaugurate the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025 on the Bangla Academy premises.
This year, around 708 organisations, including 199 at the Bangla Academy premises and 609 at Suhrawardy Udyan, will participate in the fair. The book fair will remain open from 3pm to 9pm daily, except for weekends and 21 February. On weekends, book lovers will be able to explore the fair from 11am to 9pm.
There will be a break from 1pm to 3pm on Fridays and 1pm to 2pm on Saturdays. As in previous years, the Shishu Prohor (special hours for children) will be held on Fridays and Saturdays from 11am to 1pm.
The theme for this year’s book fair is “July Gono Obbhuthyan: Notun Bangladesh Binirman” (The July Uprising: Rebuilding a New Bangladesh).
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner SM Sazzat Ali announced on Friday that enhanced security measures have been put in place at the Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan premises to ensure the peaceful conduct of the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair.
Courtesy: Daily Sun
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
