The Amar Ekushey Book Fair will begin on January 7 next year, nearly three weeks earlier than its usual February schedule, and continue until February 6.

The Bangla Academy announced the revised dates in a press release on Sunday. However, the release did not specify the reasons behind the decision to advance the fair.

According to the academy, the decision was made at a meeting on October 13 to discuss arrangements for the annual book fair. The meeting was held at the Shaheed Munier Chowdhury Conference Room of the Bangla Academy and chaired by Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury.

The meeting was attended by administrators and their representatives, as well as Zahed Ur Rahman, the prime minister’s adviser on cultural affairs.

The information was disclosed in a press release signed by Bangla Academy Director General Mohammad Azam.

Earlier this year, the Amar Ekushey Book Fair began on February 26 instead of its scheduled opening date of February 1 due to the 13th parliamentary election.