Seasonal writers at the book fair and maintaining the quality of writing

Zakir Talukder and Saikot Habib speak to DOT
Ekushey book fair, the country’s largest book festival, is getting bigger every year in terms of participating publication houses, number of new books unveiled at the fair as well as sales. Many seasonal writers (Morgi Lekhok) come forward with books for this annual book fair only every year, which is not appreciated by many professional writers, said by fiction writer Zakir Talukder. He also said that four/five stalls are needed to be set for writers so that they can sit with their books
The number of publication houses and other organizations joining at the annual book fair this year increased to 550 from 299 in 2014, according to Bangla Academy, organizer of the book fair that takes place throughout February.
Publishers should maintain the quality of writing. There should be an accountability of the writers as to why do they publish and how do they publish, said by poet Saikot Habib. This is said as otherwise the quality of writing may not be up to the standard.
Organisers and publishers said acceptability of the annual fair, titled Amar Ekushey Granthamela, and book lovers’ rising interest in creative books are some of the reasons of the book fair getting bigger each year.
The fair will remain open from 3pm to 8:30pm on weekdays, from 11am to 8:30pm on weekends, and from 8am to 9pm on February 21 — International Mother Language Day.
Zakir Talukder is Bangla Academy Award winner 2014 and poet Saikot Habib is the publisher of Prokriti.
Interviewed by Leuna Haque and edited by Tasmiah Nuhiya Ahmed.