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Publishers trying to popularise paperbacks

Staff Correspondent
Unlike Western countries, paperbacks are not common in Bangladesh but several publication houses taking part in the Amar Ekushey Cranthamela 2014 stated that they have been trying to introduce this lightweight, low-cost version of books.
Publication house Adorn released its first 35 paperbacks in 2008 comprising English and Bangla classics such as Shakespeare's Hamlet and unabridged novels of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Bankim Chandra
Chattopadhyay, Rabindranath Tagore and Begum Rokeya.
Syed Zakir Hossain, chief executive officer and publisher of Adorn, said, "It is reader friendly and a lot of people who live outside the country or travel frequently can easily carry these books."
In contrast to hardbacks, paperbacks weigh almost five times less, is environmentally friendly and more content can be fitted into less paper, he explained to The
Daily Star yesteday.
"In hardcover, a 100-page book ultimately turns into a 130 one while in paperbacks the same book can be printed with 80 pages," he said, adding that the binding cost is also less.
However, Shahidul Islam Bizu, proprietor of Pathak Shamabesh, which started off printing magazines in paperback editions in Publishers trying to popularise
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the 1990s, differed.
"If you want the best quality paperback then the costing would be the same as that of board binding thus making no difference in pricing," he said.
Moreover, Farid Ahmed of Somoy, which has eight science fictions of popular writer Muhammad Zafar Iqbal in paperback, contradicted Zakir's claim that paperbacks were gaining popularity among readers.
"We published four books in 2008 and four more in 2009, but did not receive the expected response from readers...They think paperbacks, which are much less in price, are not smart in appearance," he said.
Farid said he later discarded plans to bring out the rest of Zafar Iqbal's science fictions in paperbacks.
Sheikh Rafiq, proprietor of Biplobider Kotha Prokashona, disagreed. Out of the 30 books, mostly biographies of revolutionists, his publication started to churn out since 2012,27 are paperbacks.
"These books look good in appearance and the printing are of international standard. In fact, in foreign countries, most books come in these economic paperback editions," he said.
Meanwhile, the stall of Borsha Dupur selling "120 Bhoot FM: Tero number oshoni shongket", a book on ghost stories shared in a radio programme, in the fair's Suhrawardy Udyan portion had to close down for about an hour for not being able to cope with demands.
Moreover, 160 new books arrived at the fair including journalist Mustak Ahammad's "Poribesh o Gonomadhom: Noitik Bisleshon", and publication ceremonies of 20 were held.