New York:
Amid a vibrant four-day arrangement, lively literary chats, and an overwhelming surge of book lovers, the curtains came down on the 35th New York International Bengali Book Fair at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center. On Monday (May 25), this grand cultural confluence—the largest of its kind for expatriate Bengalis in North America—concluded in a festive atmosphere. Overcoming two consecutive days of inclement weather and rain, the final day saw the fairgrounds buzzing with the footsteps of readers, authors, and publishers. This enthusiastic turnout proved that, transcending geographical boundaries, the roots of the Bengali language and culture run incredibly deep in exile.
The four-day literary festival commenced on May 22, inaugurated by the eminent fiction writer and journalist Imdadul Haq Milon. Renowned economist Professor Rehman Sobhan graced the occasion as the chief guest. The inaugural session also featured an array of distinguished writers, researchers, and cultural personalities from home and abroad, including Rounaq Jahan, Faridur Reza Sagar, Subodh Sarkar, Deepen Bhattacharya, Toufique Imrose Khalidi, Faruq Moeenuddin, Sadat Hossain, and Bob Holman. On the opening day, a documentary screening on Biswajit Saha, the founder and CEO of Muktodhara Foundation, alongside spectacular cultural performances, elevated the event's cultural ambiance to a new height.
Surge of Readers and Literary Discussions Defying Rain
Despite continuous rainfall across New York on the second and third days, the enthusiasm at the fair remained undampened. In an engaging author-reader session titled "Goddor Ondormohol" (The Interior of Prose), contemporary literature took center stage with insightful discussions by Imdadul Haq Milon, Sadat Hossain, Deepen Bhattacharya, Ferdaus Sajedeen, and Birupaksha Paul, among others. Furthermore, the staging of Rabindranath Tagore's timeless play "Roktokorobi" and a solo musical performance by renowned artist Aditi Mohsin were among the major highlights that captivated the audience. According to the publishers, book sales surged manifold on the final day due to the bright, sunny weather, with the highest demand seen for new releases, research books, and children's literature.
Dr. Abdun Nur Honored with the Muktodhara-GFB Literary Award
The prestigious 'Muktodhara-GFB Literary Award 2026' was announced on the third evening of the fair. This year, the honor was bestowed upon language movement veteran, freedom fighter, and novelist Dr. Abdun Nur. Golam Faruk Bhuiyan, the sponsor of the award, announced the winner's name and highlighted the legacy of past recipients. Dr. Abdun Nur was presented with a crest and a cash prize of 3,000 USD. Expressing his gratitude, he remarked, "I began my literary journey while living in Bangladesh. Sometimes, receiving recognition from one's own people can be difficult. This honor today has deeply moved me." Additionally, on the closing day, the 'Chittaranjan Saha Best Publication Award' was presented to the publishing house 'Batighar'.
Bridging Youth and Technology: AI and the Youth Festival
A standout feature of this year's book fair was the massive participation of the younger generation. A large number of children participated in the art and Bengali writing competitions centered around International Mother Language Day (Ekushey February), the Shaheed Minar, and the National Martyrs' Memorial. However, a unique seminar titled "Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Creativity" garnered significant attention. Over a hundred teenagers and young adults participated in the session, exchanging views on the impact of AI on literature, technology, the future of education, and human creativity. Speakers emphasized that as technology advances, preserving human empathy and cultural roots will be the greatest challenge for future generations.
The concluding day also featured a special cultural program celebrating the 127th birth anniversary of poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, a discussion on Jibanananda Das, and a packed face-to-face interactive session with popular fiction writer Sadat Hossain, moderated by Biswajit Saha. Reflecting on the journey, Biswajit Saha, the driving force behind the Muktodhara Foundation, emotionally stated, "Thirty-five years have flown by. Today, the New York Book Fair is not just an event—it is the youthful pride of expatriate Bengalis." Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed, Chairman of the Muktodhara Foundation, and Dr. Nazrul Islam, the Convener of the 35th Book Fair, expressed their deep gratitude to the media and the volunteers working tirelessly behind the scenes.
At the end of the ceremony, it was announced that the 36th New York International Bengali Book Fair will be held from May 21 to 24, 2027. The success of this four-day festival reaffirmed that the Bengali language, literature, and culture are bound by no geographical borders, serving instead as the strongest cultural bridge connecting the hearts of Bengalis worldwide.
— International Desk, Special Report.
