publishing

ESSAY / It has to be print

There is something in the tactility of books that even non-readers find themselves admiring, and readers more so.

HIGHLIGHT / 100 feminist zines to shake, inspire, and soothe you

This year, to celebrate Sister Library Dhaka turning four, we acquired a collection of 100 zines curated by the library’s founder, Aqui Thami. The collection will be available for reading at the Goethe-Institut library from June onwards. With the acquisition of this collection, we are finally connected to the mothership Sister Library in Bombay.

The publishing journey for young writers

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a major decrease in not just the number of books being published per year, but also in the profits made by publishing houses.

In conversation with South Asia’s preeminent literary agent, Kanishka Gupta

I always tell the authors to make subjective, qualitative decisions. So many of my authors say no to higher offers from publishing houses if they don’t feel comfortable with the publisher or editor.

6 UK small presses that consider unsolicited submissions

This means you can submit a manuscript on your own, without a literary agent.

How is this year's Boi Mela coping with crisis?

How are publications, writers and readers coping with rising costs?

FEATURE / Surviving in a stagnant industry: What are emerging publishers doing differently?

Preexisting publishers are struggling to sustain in the market since the Covid-19 and the recent rise in paper prices. How are smaller and emerging publishers faring? 

FEATURE / Censorship in Boi Mela: A cause for concern?

Bangladesh needs to formulate a national book policy, as well as a comprehensive bibliography policy, alongside guidelines for the rights of authors and publishers, for contracts, and higher standards for editing and translating. 

FEATURE / Local publishers, sales, and the 2023 Dhaka Lit Fest

This year a ticketing system was imposed. As such, sales were lower than expected.

February 2, 2023
February 2, 2023

Surviving in a stagnant industry: What are emerging publishers doing differently?

Preexisting publishers are struggling to sustain in the market since the Covid-19 and the recent rise in paper prices. How are smaller and emerging publishers faring? 

January 26, 2023
January 26, 2023

Censorship in Boi Mela: A cause for concern?

Bangladesh needs to formulate a national book policy, as well as a comprehensive bibliography policy, alongside guidelines for the rights of authors and publishers, for contracts, and higher standards for editing and translating. 

January 12, 2023
January 12, 2023

Local publishers, sales, and the 2023 Dhaka Lit Fest

This year a ticketing system was imposed. As such, sales were lower than expected.

December 19, 2022
December 19, 2022

AI-generated book receives criticism on the internet

Tthe story of a little girl named Alice and a robot named Sparkle who explore the frontiers of science and technology together.

November 26, 2022
November 26, 2022

What ails Bangladesh's publishing industry?

The price we pay for the local paper takes advantage of that extra duty, and practically we are stuck with buying low quality local paper with questionable output often.

November 14, 2022
November 14, 2022

HarperCollins union begins strike, citing wages, diversity

In recent years, entry- and mid-level employees throughout publishing have been increasingly vocal on social media about their unhappiness with wages, workloads and diversity.

November 12, 2022
November 12, 2022

ULAB’s 6th literary salon discusses the local publishing scene

The event is being hosted today, October 12, between 5 and 7 pm at The Auditorium, 6th Floor of ULAB Research Building, House 56, Road 4/A Dhanmondi. It is open for all.

October 2, 2022
October 2, 2022

Rising dollar prices impact book trade

Publishers are fearing that the number of readers as well as buyers will gradually decrease. 

September 28, 2022
September 28, 2022

Shaheen Akhtar’s ‘Beloved Rongomala’ (trans. Shabnam Nadiya) in a new edition from Westland Books

Based on an 18th century legend from Bangladesh’s Noakhali region, Beloved Ronglomala tells the story of one Queen Phuleswari, a child bride, and of Rongomala, a woman of legend.

August 19, 2022
August 19, 2022

How Partition impacted the Dhaka book trade

With the expansion of the publishing business, bookshops also sprang up in various parts of Old Dhaka, particularly in Chawkbazar, Islampur, Mughaltuli and Patuatuli. It is estimated that the number of bookshops in Dhaka till 1900 were no less than 40.