While organisers had anticipated over 100,000 visitors, final footfall figures remain unconfirmed – an information gap that limits full market assessment.

Emergence of a December Tradition

The Bijoy Boi Mela 2025 concluded on 22 December at Dhaka’s Bangla Academy, marking the second iteration of a literary event strategically positioned in the “Month of Victory.”

Organised by the Bangladesh Publishers and Booksellers Association (BAPUS), the fair ran from 10-22 December with 170 stalls representing 140 leading publishing houses. Unlike the huge Amar Ekushey Book Fair, which commemorates February’s Language Movement, this December counterpart taps into the national consciousness surrounding Liberation Day (16 December), offering publishers a complementary platform focused on war literature, history, and national identity.

Youth Engagement Amid Disruption

The fair successfully attracted Bangladesh’s emerging readership, with university students and young professionals showing particular interest in titles on the Liberation War, July uprising, and political history.

However, the event faced an unprecedented interruption: it closed for two days following the death of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Shaheed Sharif Osman bin Hadi, reopening on 21 December.

Publishers reported encouraging turnout post-reopening, though the hiatus inevitably impacted sales momentum. While organisers had anticipated over 100,000 visitors, final footfall figures remain unconfirmed – an information gap that limits full market assessment.

The View From The Beach

For publishing professionals, Bijoy Boi Mela represents both opportunity and strategic repositioning. The 25% discount structure standardised across stalls aimed to stimulate December purchasing habits, while the focus on 2,000+ new titles – including 500-700 themed releases – provided a dedicated showcase for works that might be overshadowed during February’s mammoth Ekushey event.

Strategic Calendar Positioning

The timing – ten weeks before Ekushey – addresses a critical gap in Bangladesh’s literary calendar. As BAPUS officials noted, creative book markets had dwindled outside February, leaving publishers without regular promotional platforms. By establishing a December fixture, the industry can now spread editorial preparation, author tours, and marketing budgets across two peak seasons rather than concentrating all efforts on a single month.

Looking Forward

The fair concluded with calls from participants to make it permanent, with plans already discussed for district-level iterations and an international children’s book fair in May. For publishing professionals, the key takeaway is clear: a bifurcated fair calendar can sustain year-round reader engagement, though reliable sales reporting and contingency planning for disruptions must be prioritised to secure institutional confidence.

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsletter.