Publishers are worried over the country's ongoing restive political situation saying that it would shatter their hope of making business in the upcoming Ekushey Book Fair that will kick off on February 1.
The country's prime book fair is a major occasion for the printing houses from where the publishers usually bag more than 60 per cent of their annual return of the aggregate turnover of roughly Tk 150 million.
According to them, the book traders have chalked out various plans and business policies targeting the country's largest congregation of book lovers. But the recent spate of political violence came as a big blow to them.
"If the mayhem continues, the sales of the publishers will fall by 70 per cent of the regular sales," Arifur Rahman Nayeem, owner of the renowned publishing house 'Oitijjo' said adding that some 60 per cent of annual return usually publishers earn from the book fair.
Mr Nayeem told the FE that publishers normally take their preparations after the immediate past fair and they've already invested the necessary fund in this regard. "Now we will face the music, if the political parties fail to reach a consensus to resolve the current political turmoil immediately," he said.
Asked about the price of books, Mr Nayeem said because of the increased cost of raw materials and inflation, the buyers will have to pay 10 to 15 per cent higher than that of the last year. Â
Osman Gani, president of the Bangladesh Academic and Creative Publishers' Association (BACPA), said such gathering and sales of creative books depend on the people's solvency and their mental happiness. "Unfortunately, the existing volatile situation is really frustrating for the publishers," Mr Gani lamented.
He noted that because of blockades, the publishing houses are also facing severe problem in transporting their required materials including printing papers.
"However, we are hopeful of brining out creative and quality books like last year," the president said. He, however, noted that despite increased price of raw materials, this year publishers will also take the same price like the previous year.
According to the Bangla Academy sources, a total of 2,785 new titles including story books, poetry and novels were published during the last year's Amar Ekushey Grontho Mela.
Media spokesman of the function, Morshed Anwar told the FE that publishing houses and the Academy authorities are taking last-minute preparation to welcome thousands of book lovers at the event.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the month-long book festival on the academy premises on February 01, 2015.
Besides, during the inaugural function, the premier will also inaugurate 'International Literature Fair', where representatives of 40 countries will attend.
Mr Anwar, also deputy director of the Academy, told the FE that like the previous year, only the government agencies and organisations' stalls will be set up on the main premises of the Academy while stalls of all the mainstream publishing houses will be set up at the Suhrawardy Udyan.
He said all necessary measures, including allocation of stalls, security steps and budget, for the fair have already been taken up. "Now the implementation of the measures is going on in full swing that will end by January 31," he noted.
This year, around 500 stalls have been distributed among the 284 publishers and organisations of which 137 single unit stalls, 103 double unit and 44 triple unit stalls. Â
Mr Anwar said considering the volatile political situation, the authorities have taken additional security measures in and around the Bangla Academy premises to ensure security of the visitors.
He said Close Circuit TV (CCTV) cameras would be installed at different points. A temporary police camp will also be set up in the fair. Besides, sufficient number of police, RAB, plainclothes men will be deployed at the fair venue.
khairulislamdu@gmail.com