Agartala, Jan 4: The 13-day-long 43rd Agartala Book Fair, inaugurated on January 2 by Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, is marked by a significant absentee this year: publishers and booksellers from neighbouring Bangladesh.
Traditionally a regular presence, Bangladeshi participants have stayed away due to political unrest following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government.
“Since its inception in 1981, the Agartala Book Fair has always welcomed publishers from Bangladesh. This is the first time that not a single Bangladeshi book is available here,” shared a resident of Agartala, reflecting the sentiments of many attendees.
Prominent publisher Debananda Dam attributed the absence to the unstable situation in Bangladesh, noting that booksellers and publishers from the country appear unwilling to travel to Agartala this year. He added that publishers from Kolkata, Guwahati, Delhi, and local publishing houses have maintained their participation, ensuring a robust lineup of exhibitors.
Dam also pointed out a growing trend of resistance in parts of West Bengal, where protests have erupted at district-level book fairs over the display of Bangladeshi books. This broader tension may have further discouraged participation from across the border.
The fair, which runs until January 14, continues to serve as a cultural and literary hub for Tripura, even as it navigates the challenges of geopolitical and social shifts in the region.
