Photo: BSS

DHAKA, March 15, 2026 (BSS) - The 18-day Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026, which began on February 26, concluded in the capital today.

A total of 236 new books were released on the concluding day of the fair.

Member Secretary of the fair's organizing committee Dr. Md. Selim Reza said books published by Bangla Academy and other institutions were sold with a 25 percent commission.

The sales of books published by the Bangla Academy reached Tk 17,04,629.

Among the 584 participating institutions, 14 were media and healthcare service providers, Reza added.

He said 570 publishing houses took part in the fair. Based on data collected from 269 publishers, their combined sales during the first 17 days amounted to Taka eight crore.

On average, the estimated total sales of all participating publishers stand at around Tk 17 crore.

Sources from the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 management committee said a total of 2,007 new titles were published during the fair from February 26 to March 15.

The closing ceremony began at 3:00 pm, with a welcome speech by the Director General of Bangla Academy, Professor Mohammad Azam.

The fair report was presented by Member Secretary Dr. Md. Selim Reza, while Cultural Affairs Secretary Md. Mofidur Rahman delivered a thoughtful speech.

Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury attended the ceremony as the chief guest, while President of Bangla Academy Professor Abul Quasem Fazlul Huq presided over the event.

Addressing the function, Nitai Roy Chowdhury said destroying a nation's libraries and books is enough to destroy that nation.