35th International New York Bangla Book Fair

The four-day 35th New York Bangla Book Fair is starting on May 22 at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center in New York City. Readers, publishers, and writers who love literature and culture of all languages ​​will be present as guests at the fair. There will be discussions, seminars, and conversations with the participation of new books, authors, readers, and publishers throughout the book fair. Through which a sincere commitment to the modern practice and understanding of the Bengali language, literature, and culture will be reflected.

The book fair's organizer, Muktadhara Foundation, gave this information at a press conference held at the Zahur Hossain Auditorium of the National Press Club on Wednesday. Muktadhara Foundation Chairperson Professor Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed read out a written statement at the conference.

The 35th New York International Bangla Book Fair 2026 convener, Dr. Nazrul Islam, delivered the welcome address at the event. Also present were National Press Club President Poet Hasan Hafiz, Muktadhara Foundation Executive Committee Member and 2026 Book Fair Finance Committee Head Dr. Fatema Ahmed, poet Dr. Moinuddin Munshi, writer Sadat Hossain, Ananya's copyrighted publisher Monirul Haque, Alamgir Sikder Lotan, Saeed Bari, Delwar Hasan, Mesbah Uddin Ahmed, Mir Hakim, and poet and reciter Dr. Faruk Azam.

In a written statement, Muktadhara Foundation Chairperson Professor Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed said, "New York Bangla Book Fair is a small part of Bangladesh abroad." The New York International Bangla Book Fair has been held regularly in New York for the past 34 years. In continuation of previous years, the 'Muktadhara GFB Literary Award', worth 3,000 US dollars, will be awarded in 2026 as well. In addition, the 'Shaheed Qadri Book Award' will be awarded to the best book published by new immigrant writers, and the 'Chittaranjan Saha Best Publication Award' will be given to the best institution among the participating publishing houses.

The speakers noted that the New York Bangla Book Fair has gradually become more diverse with the participation of renowned publishers from Bangladesh and West Bengal. With the participation of writers, poets, artists, and readers from different parts of the world, as well as Bangladesh and West Bengal, this book fair has become an important international center of practice for the Bengali language, literature, and culture.

The four-day book fair will end on May 25. This book fair was initiated in 1992 by Biswajit Saha. That year, Muktadhara and Bengalir Chetna Mancha initiated this historic initiative by erecting a temporary Shaheed Minar in front of the UN headquarters to pay tribute to the language martyrs and organizing a two-day book fair.