Carrying the memories of the great sacrifices of the Language Movement of 1952, the Amar Ekushey Book Fair is held throughout the month of February every year. It is the festival of life for the Bengali people. This fair is not merely a place for buying and selling books; rather, it is a grand meeting ground of Bengali language, culture, thought, and creativity.
The Ekushey Book Fair began in 1972. After the great Liberation War, with the aim of promoting the cultural awakening of independent Bangladesh, artist Chittaranjan Saha first organized a small book exhibition at the premises of Bangla Academy. That small initiative has now expanded into a massive cultural festival. Every year throughout February, crowds of book lovers gather at the heart of Dhaka city, and the surroundings become filled with the fragrance of books. However, this year is slightly different; due to Ramadan, the book fair has started a bit later than usual.
The Ekushey Book Fair is a name of emotion for Bengalis. Throughout the year, literature lovers wait eagerly for the fair to begin. The theme of this year’s fair, “Multidimensional Bangladesh,” is highly timely. The fair attracts the new generation towards books and inspires a deeper interest in knowledge.
A book is like a ship that sails across the ocean of time, carrying knowledge from one generation to another. The book fair is the harbor where that ship drops its anchor. But the question remains: in the current flood of digital media, are book sales and reading habits progressing side by side? While the number of people taking selfies at the book fair is increasing, do they still have the patience to turn the pages and read a few lines?
Every February, we become illuminated with the pride and spirit of our language. Yet amid this festive atmosphere, where exactly does the true map of our intellect and consciousness stand?
According to data from an international survey, among 102 countries in the world, Bangladesh ranks 97th in reading habits. On average, a person in this country reads only three books a year. Due to the lack of readers, hundreds of libraries in our country are gradually turning into museums. If we look at the previous generation, a familiar scene often appeared: someone sitting on the veranda in the afternoon or reading a book before going to bed at night.
Entertainment options were limited then, but the sky of imagination was limitless. Works like Jibanananda Das’s Banalata Sen or Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s Srikanta were companions of their youth. Today, smartphones and short clips on social media have reduced our attention span. A mind accustomed to watching a few seconds of reels now feels exhausted trying to concentrate on a three-hundred-page novel.
The lives of today’s students are trapped in the labyrinth of CGPA and BCS ambitions. After climbing the mountain of textbooks, when they finally reach leisure time, their minds are so tired that they choose easy entertainment like scrolling through social media or gaming.The habit of reading books is now becoming nearly extinct.
Today’s education system is largely job-oriented. By strictly following the proverb, “Those who study will ride in cars and horses,” we have forgotten the true purpose of education intellectual development and critical thinking. Many parents even consider reading books outside the academic syllabus a waste of time.
Reading books is not merely a way to pass time; it is a form of mental exercise. Research shows that regular reading significantly reduces the risk of complex diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Reading also teaches people to step into someone else’s shoes. When the sorrow of a fictional character touches a reader’s heart, it makes them more empathetic toward people in real life. While digital screens stimulate the brain, the habit of reading books reduces blood pressure and relieves mental stress.
There is no greater tool than books to illuminate a darkened society. To remove superstition and narrow-mindedness, there is no alternative to books.
The Ekushey Book Fair is a symbol of Bengali pride, emotion, and culture. As long as the Bengali language and culture survive, the Ekushey Book Fair will continue to shine in our hearts eternally awakened and undying, like the immortal memory of the martyrs of the Language Movement.
