Low turnout in Ctg Book Fair

The Amar Ekushey Book Fair in Chittagong has yet to see a significant turnout, even after five days since its inauguration. 

The 26-day event, which commenced on February 1 at the MA Aziz Stadium Gymnasium ground, has struggled to attract readers and visitors, leaving many stalls with minimal sales. However, stall owners remain optimistic that the crowd will grow in the coming days.  

This year, 125 publications from Dhaka and Chittagong have set up stalls at the fair, with a total of 140 book stalls displaying and selling various literary works. Despite the scale of the event, foot traffic has remained low, with many stalls still in the process of being decorated and arranged.  

During a visit on Wednesday afternoon, it was observed that only a handful of stalls had visitors. Many booksellers attributed the slow start to a change in scheduling, as the fair is traditionally held after the first week of February. This earlier start may have resulted in a lack of awareness among potential attendees.  

Despite the slow turnout, some readers were seen browsing books with friends and family. Children and teenagers were also present, exploring their favorite authors' works. Abdullah, a student of Southern University, mentioned that he visited the fair on a free day but had not yet decided on any purchases. Priya Akhter Mim, a student at USTC University, shared that even if she did not buy books, simply seeing them arranged in stalls was a joyful experience.  

Sales representatives at various stalls echoed concerns about the low number of visitors. Sadman, from Rachna Prakashan, noted that many people were unaware of the fair's early start, leading to reduced footfall. Shawkat Yakub, from Aiman Publications, mentioned that while several books by new authors were on display, the crowd had yet to pick up, but he expected an increase closer to the closing days.  

Mamunur Rashid, Social Welfare and Cultural Officer of Chattogram City Corporation, acknowledged the lower attendance, citing the deviation from the usual mid-February start. He expressed hope that the fair would soon see larger crowds as more people became aware of the event.