Bangladeshi stalls absent from Kolkata’s major fair; no show likely to continue even in book fair for first time since 1996

Every year since 1996, when the Sheikh Hasina government came to power in Bangladesh, the neighbouring country has featured in every edition of the city’s book fair. In 1999, Hasina herself attended the fair when Bangladesh was the theme country. Even when Bangladesh was governed for five years by Begum Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party and was then under military rule between 2001 and 2008, there was no break in tradition. Last year, the Bangladesh pavilion was around 2,500 sq ft with over 50 stalls each — the stall sizes being around 60 to 70 sq ft.

Guild President Tridib Chatterjee told The Indian Express, “Given the current geo-political situation between the two countries, until we get a go-ahead from the Ministry of External Affairs, we cannot allot any stalls to Bangladesh. Till now, the Ministry has not given any go-ahead in this matter.”

Chatterjee said that if there is any breach of law and order, such as any attack on a stall of the neighbouring country, then the Guild would be held responsible.

With 1,050 stalls, the countries participating in the book fair this year include the UK, the USA, Russia, Iran, Japan, France, Spain, Peru, Italy, Argentina, and Colombia — with Germany as the focal theme.

Meanwhile, the annual Bidhannagar Mela Utsav held at the Salt Lake Central Park fairground started without any stalls from Bangladesh. Every year, around six to seven stalls of Bangladeshi Dhakai and Jamdani sarees would draw large crowds.

According to sources, the agency managing the stall and pavilion booking for the fair had decided to refund the advance paid by Bangladeshi traders. According to the official, this decision was reached to “prevent any untoward incident or law and order situation” with the current tension between the two countries. Stalls from other countries like Turkey and Afghanistan are already ready.

Sources in the BMC said that asking the Bangladesh traders not to come was a “precautionary step” as their presence “may create trouble”. According to sources in the agency who allot stalls, many Bangladeshi national traders are interested in setting up stalls and do not want a refund.

Around 500 stalls are being set up at the Bidhannagar Mela Utsav this time, including the food court and amusement rides.

This year, Bangladesh did not have any representation at the 30th International Film Festival in Kolkata as well due to visa problems.

A two-day Bengali literary festival at Visva-Bharati University’s Bangladesh Bhavan also saw no participation from Bangladesh this year. This was after several poets and writers from Bangladesh were reportedly denied visas amid rising political tensions between India and the neighbouring country. Sources from the programme organiser, Khowai Sahitya Samiti, said that almost 20 poets and writers from Bangladesh wanted to attend the festival.