Prime Minister to Award Ekushey Padak and Open Book Fair on Feb 26

In a dual celebration of language and culture, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will present the Ekushey Padak 2026 and inaugurate the Amar Ekushey Book Fair on February 26.

Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury confirmed the schedule on Saturday. The Prime Minister is slated to confer the Ekushey Padak—the nation’s second-highest civilian award—to distinguished personalities in a morning ceremony. Later that afternoon, he will preside over the official opening of the month-long book fair at the Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan premises.

In a significant move to support the literary industry, the government has fully waived stall rents for participating publishers this year. Despite this, the publishers' collective ‘Prakashak Oikya’ recently issued a press release stating they would abstain from the fair, citing concerns over stall allocation transparency and insufficient preparation time.

Authorities at Bangla Academy confirmed that logistical preparations for both events are now in their final stages to ensure a smooth transition into the country’s most beloved cultural festival.