Regional Unrest Keeps Bangladesh Publishers Away From Agartala Book Fair
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Agartala
- Jan 01, 2026
- 27
The absence of Bangladeshi publishing houses will once again mark Tripura’s 44th Agartala Book Fair, scheduled to open on January 2 at the Hapania International Fair Ground, underscoring the widening cultural and diplomatic ripples of regional political uncertainty.
Organisers confirmed that no stall applications have been received from the publishers across the border for the second consecutive year, a notable departure from earlier editions when Bangladeshi participation was a regular and defining feature of the fair’s cross-border literary character.
The 13-day-long event will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha and is being organised by the Information and Cultural Affairs Department. This year’s fair is thematically dedicated to the 150th anniversary of “Vande Mataram”, a landmark composition that continues to resonate within India’s cultural and nationalist discourse, ICA Director Bimbisar Bhattacharjee said.
As preparations entered their final phase on Thursday, publishers and booksellers from Tripura and various parts of the country were seen setting up stalls, signalling robust domestic participation. The fair is expected to surpass last year’s scale, with stall applications already exceeding 183, compared to 180 stalls in the previous edition.
Widely regarded as one of Tripura’s most significant cultural congregations, the Agartala Book Fair has long served as a meeting ground for readers, writers, and publishers, transforming the venue into a vibrant arena of literary exchange, debate, and cultural performance.
Explaining the continued absence of Bangladeshi publishers, Bhattacharjee noted that invitations are extended annually, but no applications have been forthcoming since last year, despite their consistent presence in earlier fairs.
The development comes against the backdrop of political turbulence in Bangladesh, where unrest has persisted since August 2024 following a student-led uprising and the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. With the country yet to return to democratic governance and bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh reportedly under strain during the interim administration, cultural exchanges appear to have been among the indirect casualties of the evolving regional climate.
Organisers also acknowledged the structural challenges facing book fairs nationwide, particularly the growing dominance of e-commerce platforms offering steep discounts and doorstep delivery. Yet, they emphasised that physical book fairs retain an irreplaceable role by offering a shared cultural space—one that nurtures intellectual dialogue, promotes reading habits, and sustains the tactile and social dimensions of literary life.
Adding to the fair’s appeal, a series of cultural programmes will run throughout the 13-day event, featuring indigenous traditions alongside classical performances, reinforcing the fair’s identity not merely as a marketplace for books but as a celebration of collective cultural expression.