Agartala: The 43rd Agartala Book Fair, scheduled to take place from January 2 to 14, 2025, will see a notable absence of Bangladeshi publishers and booksellers. This decision comes amidst the current political climate in Bangladesh, according to officials.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha is set to inaugurate the book fair at the Badharghat fair ground on January 2. While the lottery for stall distribution is scheduled for today, no applications have been received from any Bangladeshi publishing houses.
Despite this, the fair will feature participation from publishers in Kolkata, Guwahati, Delhi, and local publishing houses.
Subabrata Deb, President of the Tripura Publishers’ Guild, attributed this absence to the political situation in Bangladesh following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. He expressed concerns about the potential impact on the book fair, stating that the absence of Bangladeshi publications will be a significant loss for book lovers in Tripura.
Deb also praised the state government’s decision to advance the book fair from its usual February-March timeframe to January. This shift is expected to provide students with a better opportunity to attend the fair without conflicting with board examinations.
Eminent writer Nandita Roy echoed these sentiments, citing internal problems and visa issues as potential deterrents for Bangladeshi participation. She emphasized the potential loss of valuable literary works and research-based books from Bangladeshi publishers, which are highly sought after in Tripura.
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