Bangladesh participation uncertain in Kolkata International Book Fair amid clearance issue

Book publishers from Bangladesh face uncertainty over participation in the 49th Kolkata International Book Fair in 2026 due to the absence of clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs. Bangladesh had also not participated in the 2025 edition, despite being one of the fair’s most consistent participants over its 49-year history.

“They did not get stalls even last year. The situation has been sensitive and unrestful in Bangladesh. We as organisers are not in a position to give out stalls to publishers from Bangladesh until the Government of India gives the green signal,” Tridib Chatterjee, general secretary of the Publishers and Booksellers Guild, told The Hindu on Saturday (December 27, 2025).

As the situation in Bangladesh continues to remain tense, participation by its publishers in the Kolkata Book Fair, with which they have long shared close ties, remains uncertain. Owing to a shared language and cultural affinity, West Bengal and Bangladesh have historically enjoyed a common readership and strong publishing links.

According to sources, several senior figures from the Bangladeshi publishing industry have sought stalls for the upcoming edition. However, guild officials said that participation by international publishers requires clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs, and without such approval, the organisers cannot allow Bangladesh to take part in the fair.

This would mark only the second instance in the history of the event that Bangladesh will not participate, excluding the two years when the fair was not held.

This year, Argentina has been selected as the theme country.

In 2022, Bangladesh was given special focus at the International Kolkata Book Fair to mark the 50th anniversary of the Liberation War. Typically, around 45 publishers from Bangladesh participate in the annual event.

Guild officials, however, said they remain confident that the absence of Bangladeshi publishers will not significantly affect book sales.

The book fair will take place between January 22 to February 3, 2026, at the Boimela Prangan, Karunamoyee, Salt Lake. The fair will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in presence of authors, artists, scholars, and poets.