The Amar Ekushey Book Fair faced a significant decline in business in 2021 due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite some recovery in subsequent years, sales took another hit this year, leading to uncertainty among publishers.
Sales data analysis spanning the past decade reveals notable fluctuations in the book fair market. Prior to the pandemic, sales had been on a steady upward trajectory.
In 2020, just before the pandemic hit the country, book sales at the fair surpassed Tk 80 crore. However, the following year, sales plummeted to a mere Tk 3 crore.
While there were signs of market recovery in the ensuing years, with sales reaching up to Tk 60 crore in the 2024 fair, the current year’s fair, shortened due to political events, disappointed publishers with low sales.
**Consistent Growth Followed by Steep Decline**
According to the Bangla Academy, book sales at the fair saw a consistent increase from 2017 to 2020.
In 2017, books worth approximately Tk 65 crore were sold, with average daily sales of around Tk 2.32 crore. Sales climbed to about Tk 70 crore in 2018, with daily average sales of Tk 2.50 crore.
The upward trend continued in 2019, with sales rising to about Tk 79 crore and daily average sales of Tk 2.63 crore. The peak was reached in 2020 when total sales hit around Tk 82 crore. During that year’s 27-day fair, daily average sales were about Tk 3.03 crore, the highest in the past decade.
Mazharul Islam, the chief executive of Annyaprakash, attributed this growth to the release of new books by popular authors, increased reader turnout, and the expansion of the fairgrounds.
However, the situation took a sharp turn in 2021 due to the pandemic, which led to the fair starting later than usual and being shortened due to worsening conditions. Total sales plummeted to Tk 3 crore, with daily average sales hitting a record low.
Reflecting on the challenges faced during that year’s fair, Osman Gani from Agamee Prokashani highlighted limited visitor numbers and fear of infection as key factors contributing to reduced book sales.
**Uncertain Prospects for Recovery**
Following the pandemic, there were gradual signs of recovery in book sales.
In 2022, books worth approximately Tk 52 crore were sold during the 31-day fair, with average daily sales of Tk 1.67 crore. Sales slightly declined in 2023 to around Tk 47 crore, with daily averages remaining stable.
Sales saw an uptick in 2024, reaching about Tk 60 crore, with daily averages of Tk 1.93 crore. However, this positive trend was short-lived.
In 2025, total book sales dropped to around Tk 40 crore, with average daily sales declining. The decline accelerated in 2026, with total sales at approximately Tk 17 crore during the 18-day fair.
Mahrukh Mohiuddin from The University Press Limited noted that political and economic instability significantly impacted book sales at the fair. Many publishers struggled to cover basic stall costs, with a substantial drop in sales compared to previous years.
Despite the challenges, Mohammad Azam from Bangla Academy emphasized that judging the fair’s success solely on book sales might not present the full picture. He highlighted that while footfall decreased, the visitors were mostly buyers, indicating that lower turnout did not necessarily equate to fewer sales.
Azam emphasized that book enthusiasts who attend the fair are likely to make purchases, regardless of external factors, pointing out that this year’s fair attendance, though lower, comprised dedicated book buyers.