Dhaka, Feb. 21 -- Typically, people who come to pay their respects at the Central Shaheed Minar on the morning of Feb 21, visit the Amar Ekushey Book Fair afterwards. But on Friday, the fair was nearly deserted.

The fair opened its door to the public at 7am, but no visitors were seen inside as of 9am. Some stalls even closed due to the absence of a crowd.

Jhumjhumi Publishers Sales Manager Rifa Tamanna Islam told bdnews24.com: "I reached the stall at 7:20am. No one was here. Before coming to the fair, I went to the Shaheed Minar and found fewer people this year."

However, she said very few people showed up after 9am, adding that only two books were sold at the Jhumjhumi Publishers stall as of 10:30am.

Dolon, a publishing house for chi...