The 7th edition of the day-long Book Exchange Festival was held on Friday, January 9, 2026, at Jamal Khan Road, drawing thousands of enthusiastic readers from across the city. The event, which has become a staple of Chattogram’s cultural calendar, allowed participants to swap their old, read books for new titles free of cost.
Ekushey Padak-winning novelist Harishankar Jaladas inaugurated the festival in the morning. Speaking at the opening ceremony, he praised the initiative for fostering a culture of knowledge sharing rather than commercial transaction.
Highlights of the Festival
- Venue: Jamal Khan Road, Chattogram.
- Organized by: Social organization ‘Failed Camera Stories’ with support from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
- Participation: Thousands of book lovers attended, with 11 specialized stalls set up for the exchange.
- Scale: Organizers expected more than 30,000 books to be exchanged throughout the day.
The festival concluded at 8:00 PM after a busy day of intellectual engagement. Special guests at the inaugural session included Shamsuddin Illius, Chattogram Bureau Chief of The Business Standard, and Al Jobayed, Vice-President of City Bank. The session was moderated by Saeed Khan Shagor.
A Movement Born of the Pandemic
The festival operates under the slogan “Not just books, but an exchange of knowledge.” It was first conceived in 2021 by film activist Saeed Khan Shagor along with Mahir Azraf and Ankan Dey Animesh.
The initiative began during the COVID-19 pandemic when traditional events like the Ekushey Book Fair were restricted. Starting with only 600 books in its first edition, the festival has grown exponentially:
- 2021: 9,000+ books exchanged.
- 2022: 20,000+ books exchanged (leading to a second winter edition that saw 30,000+ exchanges).
- Previous Edition: Over 50,000 books were swapped in a single day at Jamal Khan.
Unlike traditional fairs where books are sold, this festival allows readers to leave a book they have finished and take home a new one, emphasizing the community-driven aspect of literature. Organizers noted that the growing turnout each year reflects Chattogram’s deep-rooted passion for reading and collective cultural activities.
