Bangladesh's participation in the 49th Kolkata International Book Fair in 2026 is uncertain. The Ministry of External Affairs in India has not given permission for Bangladeshi publishers to join. Bangladesh also did not take part in the 2025 fair. Tridib Chatterjee, general secretary of the Publishers and Booksellers Guild, said on December 27, 2025: "They did not get stalls even last year. The situation has been sensitive and unrestful in Bangladesh. We as organisers are not in a position to give out stalls to publishers from Bangladesh until the Government of India gives the green signal." The Kolkata Book Fair has long had strong ties with Bangladeshi publishers because of shared language and culture. Usually, about 45 publishers from Bangladesh attend yearly. Several senior Bangladeshi publishers want to participate this year. But Guild officials said that without clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs, Bangladesh cannot take part. This would be only the second time Bangladesh misses the fair, apart from years when the event was not held. The 2026 fair will be held from January 22 to February 3 at Boimela Prangan, Karunamoyee, Salt Lake. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will inaugurate it. The theme country for 2026 is Argentina. In 2022, Bangladesh was specially featured to mark the 50th anniversary of the Liberation War. Guild officials believe the absence of Bangladesh will not hurt book sales much.