The first seven days saw a sharp decrease in the number of new titles published in Amar Ekushey Book Fair, compared to the previous year.
Poetry led the number of new arrivals, followed by novels and short stories, according to statistics provided by the fair’s information centre.
Statistics show in the first week of the fair, a total of 692 new titles were published while the number was 880 in last year’s fair during the corresponding period.
Yesterday, 118 new books were published at the fair, including 33 collections of poetry, 20 collections of novel, 14 collections of short stories and eight essays.
During the week, 159 poetry books were published. Besides, 127 novels, 115 short stories, 33 essays, 31 juvenile literature, 25 rhythms, 11 biographies, 11 travelogues, 11 history books, 10 research books, one translation and six science fictions were published.
Agamee Prokashoni publisher Osman Gani, also the president of Academic and Creative Publishers Association of Bangladesh, said: “Many books were published in the first week of last year’s fair but the response was poor as a blockade was in force throughout the country. This is why publishers this year are cautious about bringing new books.”
“Generally, more books are published in the second or third week of the fair,” he added.
Nalonda publisher Redwanur Rahman Jewel said publishers seem to be choosy in printing new books this year.
“Consequently, the first days of the fair saw less new books compared to the previous year. But a good number of books are yet to hit the fair. Many of them will come after the first half of the fair,” he said.
In 2014, the first week of the fair saw 463 new titles while the number of new titles in 2013 was 490.
Also, in 2012, the number of new books hitting the stalls in the first week was 727 and it was 551 in 2011.
Yesterday, the early hours of the fair saw few visitors, but the number grew in the evening. Some stall attendants said the sale was not bad, and readers looked for science fictions and novels although poetry topped new arrivals.
