Ending a long uncertainty, Bangla Academy has decided to organize the Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2021 from March 18 to April 14.

Member secretary of the fair committee and Bangla Academy Director Jalal Ahmed confirmed this information to Banglanews on Thursday.

He said the decision was finalized in a meeting of the fair committee in the morning.

Earlier on December 10 last year, the executive committee of Bangla Academy decided to suspend this year's fair amid the Covid-19 pandemic and to hold a virtual fair instead. However, writers and publishers expressed anger over the decision terming it as 'autocratic'.

Later on December 13, two publishers' associations held a meeting with Bangla Academy Director General Habibullah Siraji and they decided not to hold the fair virtually but to delay it a bit.

Publishes' association on December 15 submitted a written proposal to Bangla Academy for holding an in-person fair from February 18 to March 17.

On January 17, senior officials of Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Bangla Academy, and representatives of publishers held another meeting chaired by State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid. After the meeting, state minister said prime minister will make the final decision on the launch date of the fair.