Dhaka: As many as 1,403 books have been published in the first 10 days of the ongoing Ekushey Book Fair.

The number was 1,363 during the same period last year. With Monday’s publications, the total number of new titles is now 1,531, reports the UNB.

Publishers said poetry books are dominating the fair but their sales are not buoyant.

Some 229 novels, 396 poetry volumes, 220 short stories and 80 essay books have been published so far.

Books on research (26), rhyme (35), children literature (46), biography (44), edition of compilation ( 4), Liberation War (42), drama (13), travelogue (30), politics (12), health (11), computer (3), riddle (14), religion (8), translation (5), dictionary(1),science fiction (21) and others (112) were published.

Meanwhile, the Bangla Academy is exhibiting 102 newly-printed and reprinted books this year.

The Ekushey Book Fair is getting bigger every year in terms of participating publication houses, the number of new books as well as sales.

Bangla Academy said their books are being sold at 25 percent discount while bKash is offering a 7 percent cashback when making the payment on purchases through its payment network. The cashback is applicable on top of the publishers’ percent discount.

Meanwhile, a discussion programme titled ‘Publication sector of Bangladesh: Past and Present’ was held on the 11th day followed by a cultural programme.

Mahrukh Mohiuddin delivered the keynote speech while Sudhanshu Dey, Tribid Chattapadhay, Mohammad Ishtiaq Hossain and Farid Ahmed attend the discussion session chaired by poet and Pro-Vice Chancellor Muhammad Samad.