The Ministry of Home Affairs has sent a proposal to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs suggesting that the Amar Ekushey Book Fair be held after the upcoming national election.
The final decision now rests with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, creating uncertainty over the earlier plan to stage the fair in December.
A senior official from the Home Ministry’s political wing said on Saturday (27 September) that the issue was discussed at the Advisory Council on Law and Order meeting on 21 September.
The meeting reviewed both the upcoming February national election and security arrangements for the book fair.
Following these discussions, the Home Ministry recommended that the Cultural Affairs Ministry consider holding the fair after the election.
However, Mahbubur Rahman Tuhin, senior information officer at the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, said that no decision has yet been made to shift the book fair to after the election.
Meanwhile, Bangla Academy Director General Professor Mohammad Azam said no final decision had been taken on the matter and added that “everything will be clear on Sunday.”
Traditionally held every February, the Amar Ekushey Book Fair had been moved forward to December this time because of the national election and Ramadan. On 18 September, Bangla Academy’s Director General announced that the 2026 Amar Ekushey Book Fair would be held starting from 17 December 2025.
