Operational Chaos Meets Cultural Insensitivity

A major international book fair, the usually month-long annual Amar Ekushey Boi Mela in the Bangladesh capital, Dhaka, has opened to widespread dismay from exhibitors and visitors alike, with industry observers already branding it potentially the most poorly managed edition in the event’s history.

Just days into the programme, publishers report significant commercial disruption caused by fundamental scheduling failures and a striking lack of cultural awareness.

The most damaging oversight appears to be the fair’s scheduling during Ramadan, with late-afternoon programming directly conflicting with Muslim visitors’ religious obligations.

As the iftar hour approaches, Muslim attendees – who comprise a substantial portion of the market – are forced to abandon the venue to prepare for evening prayers and breaking their fast.

This exodus has devastated late-day sales, traditionally a peak trading period for book fairs.

Commercial Reality Bites

The fair first raised booth prices, then halved them than abandoned them altogether as publishers voted with their feet when organisers switched dates repeatedly, finally settling on dates that cut right through Ramadan.

Publishers report that operational costs now far exceed potential returns, with one industry figure noting that “participating in the fair has already become a losing gamble from the start”.

The confluence of inflated costs, schedule instability and culturally insensitive scheduling has created a perfect storm. Exhibitors face mounting losses.

The View From The Beach

The fair’s failures highlight a growing crisis in international book fair management. When organisers prioritise revenue over cultural competency and exhibitor welfare, the entire publishing ecosystem suffers.

For an industry already grappling with rising paper costs and declining retail margins, such mismanagement threatens to accelerate publisher withdrawals from physical fair participation.

The episode serves as a cautionary tale: successful book fairs require more than marquee names and expansive halls – they demand sophisticated understanding of local cultures, religious calendars, and the economic realities facing contemporary publishing houses.

For 2026, at least, the organisers failed on all counts.

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.