New writers unhappy over sales

A good number of new books arrived at the Ekushey Boi Mela this year but dismal pictures of sales of these books let new writers down.
Around 300 out of 1,705 new books arrived till yesterday evening at the fair on its 19th day. Booksellers of different stalls at the fair said the sale of these books is not satisfactory.
Eminent writer Zafar Iqbal said, “We have to grow interest among readers about the fresh writers through different activities and take steps to introduce them to readers.”
Bangla Academy Deputy Director General Anwar Murshid said, “ The academy is going to reintroduce the stalled project titled 'Tarun Lekhak Prokalpo' this year in July to patronise young writers.
“Lack of publicity is one of the major problems for the fresh writers like me”, said Syed Tipu Sultan, an emigrant writer whose first poetry collection tilted ' Kuashar Ushnata' was published from Annanya publications this year at the fair.
Azam Khan, another new writer, whose first story book titled ' Black' was published from Moushimi Prokashani at the fair said, “ Publishers only spend their money on the advertisement of popular and reputed writers not for the fresh one like me.”
Meanwhile, Bangla Academy declared Bangla Academy Shahittya Purashker 2008 yesterday.
This year poet Mahbub Sadik received the prestigious reward for his poetry, professor Karunamoy Goshawami for prose research and Helena Khan for literature for children.
Rewards will be formally handed over to awardees on 26 February.
Meanwhile, Subarna Publications yesterday published the second edition of the 'Creating a World Without Poverty' by noble laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus. The book contains 30 pages and the price is fixed at Tk 550.00
A total of 121 new titles arrived at the fair yesterday. The books include Adivashider Megh O Shishir by Selina Hossain, Chitipatra Chittaya Ranjan Shaha, by Prof Abdul Mannan Syed, Nivrite Ekaki Ekdin by Nasreen Zahan, Sthanio Sarker: Atiti, Bartaman, and Bhabishyat by Dr Badiul Alam Majumder.