To celebrate the ongoing Amar Ekushey Book Fair, ATN Bangla, a private broadcaster, has relaunched its special literary talk show called “Kobi Bari”. The show features discussions with notable individuals from Bangladesh’s cultural and creative domains.
The Amar Ekushey Book Fair, the country’s largest annual literary event organized by Bangla Academy, typically commences on February 1 and spans the entire month, often extending into early March. However, the 2026 edition was postponed to start on February 26 due to the 13th national elections, following revisions to the initially proposed late February dates. The fair officially opened on Thursday.
Hosted and conceived by poet and media personality Asad Kajol, the program has been televised during the book fair period in recent times, as per the organizers. This year’s version is planned to be broadcast daily until March 15.
The premiere episode showcases Ferdous Ara, a Rabindra Sangeet singer, discussing the cultural importance of Ekushey and the enduring bond between music, language, and literature in Bangladesh.
The episode is scheduled to air today (Friday) at 2 pm, followed by subsequent episodes airing daily at the same time on ATN News throughout the fair.
According to the program organizers, “Kobi Bari” frequently welcomes poets, writers, filmmakers, actors, musicians, and public intellectuals, providing a platform for dialogues on literature and modern culture.
Past guests have included figures like actor Sohel Rana, actor and road-safety advocate Ilias Kanchan, novelist Imdadul Haq Milan, writer Anisul Hoque, novelist Selina Hossain, the late academic Syed Manzoorul Islam, and actor Dilara Zaman, among others.
Discussing the show, Kajol expressed that it was a long-cherished initiative developed through continuous effort. He stated, “It is a project close to my heart. With varied topics and a diverse lineup of guests, the show has gradually garnered audience interest.”