Are the writers getting royalties?

How many creative books are sold annually in the country, whether the authors are getting proper royalties, what profit the publisher is looking at – one has to go through a ‘labyrinth circuit’ while looking for answers to these questions.

Every year, the number of publishing houses participating in the Ekushey Book Fair is increasing.

This year, a total of 937 units were allocated to 635 institutions in the book fair. The previous year, 601 institutions participated in the book fair. Accordingly, this time the number of publishing houses has increased to 34.

Some people associated with the book fair feel that if the book business had to count losses, then the number of stalls would not have increased every year. If the publishing business is profitable, are authors receiving proper royalties? Many people have such questions.

At least 10 of the country’s top publishing houses, none of them were willing to comment publicly on book sales. When asked about the famous 10 authors who have published books from these publishing houses, they also refused to tell how much royalty they get annually.

In 2020, books worth Tk 82 crore were sold at the Ekushey Book Fair. According to the information given by Bangla Academy at the end of the fair, this calculation of book sales is known. 15 percent (without exception) royalty of this amount is supposed to be Tk 12 crore 30 lakh. It was not possible to know whether the authors received that amount of money.

In 2021, only 3 crore 11 lakh books were sold at the book fair in the midst of the pandemic. In 2022, this figure was 52 crore 50 lakh taka. The management committee of the fair gave information on the purchase of Tk 47 crore in 2023 and Tk 60 crore in the 2024 book fair.

As a result, book fair authorities are suggesting that book sales have decreased in the post-Covid era. However, book marketers feel that online book sales have increased after Covid.

On inquiry it is known that the entire Bishek publishing house pays royalties to regular authors but the rest do not. Conversely, authors pay publishers to publish books.

Dipankar Das, owner of chain bookshop, online seller and a leading publishing house ‘Batighar’, told bdnews24.com, “There are book readers even in remote areas of the country, many of them are now buying books online.”

On the question of royalty, Dipankar said, “Batighar regularly pays royalties to writers. Royalty is usually paid from March to February. Those whose books sell more, get more money.”

How much money do authors get royalties?

Royalties are financial dividends from book sales. It totally depends on the author’s agreement with the publisher. Author royalties are usually set at 10 to 15 percent.

Fiction writer Swakrit Noman said that in 2023, he received a royalty of 1 lakh 44 thousand rupees from the sale of books. This year’s royalty will be received in March 2025.

In addition, the owner of one of the country’s first publishing houses said that in 2023, they have given 40 lakhs of author’s royalty. Another publishing house said that last year they paid a royalty of Tk 15 lakh to a writer. These publishers did not want to be identified.

The whole issue of royalty is done through an author-publisher agreement. Even if there is a written contract, it is only nominal. Basically, royalties are paid to authors whose books sell more. Some authors are also paid in advance. However, none of the publishers are willing to say publicly about the amount of money being traded.

Publishers feel that there are various problems with it, including VAT-tax. They claim that the book publishing industry should get special concessions and incentives in these cases.

In 2015, the book ‘Rabindranath never came to eat here’ written by Mohammad Nazim Uddin was published by Batighar Publications. This lighthouse and the chain bookshop lighthouse are not the same establishment. Author Mohammad Nazim Uddin himself is the proprietor of this publishing house. Later the Indian edition of the book was published by Abhiyan Publishers, Calcutta. In 2021, Srijit Mukherjee, a famous Indian filmmaker, made a series based on this book.

Mohammad Nazim Uddin told bdnews24.com, “I myself am the publisher of the book. So my royalty is a little different. The book has sold well in India as well. Got money from there too.”

Nazim Uddin claims that this book has sold more than one lakh copies.

But he did not want to tell the amount of royalty.

There are at least more than 50 writers, including writer and researcher Mohiuddin Ahmad, fiction writer Anisul Haque, Shahaduzzaman, Sadat Hossain, Swakrit Noman, who are receiving regular royalties. However, it was not possible to know how much money they are getting as royalties.

Among them, Mohiuddin Ahmad chose writing as a profession.

Mohiuddin Ahmed’s ‘Lal Santhras’ and ‘Pratyanayak’ were among the best-selling books at the 2023 Book Fair. Two books written on Siraj Sikdar and the Proletarian Party and Sirajul Alam Khan arouse great interest among the readers.

Besides, this writer’s ‘Next door number 32: 25 March 15 August’, ‘Bela Abela’, ‘Selection of 300’, ‘Famine of 70’, ‘Awami League Rise – 1948-1970’, ‘Looking for Al Qaeda’, ‘Chittagong Hill Tracts’ ‘, ‘Rise and Fall of Jass, Politics of Unsettled Times’, several books are appreciated by the readers throughout the year. Mohiuddin Ahmed’s books on politics sell well.

Author Mohiuddin Ahmad told bdnews24.com, “Almost all my books have been published by Prothma and Batighar. They calculate the royalty amount every year and send it to my account. I also have a couple of publications and books coming out. Some have paid in advance, calculating royalties on sales of 1/2 thousand copies.”

Fiction writer Anisul Haque thinks that the market of books in the country is not more than 100 crore rupees.

He said, “If books worth 50/60 crores are sold in the book fair, then the whole year does not sell more than that amount. In total, I think hundreds of crores of creative books are sold throughout the year.”

Anisul Haque commented, “If a book worth Tk 100 crore is sold, then the authors are supposed to get Tk 15 crore as 15 percent royalty. At least more than 3 thousand authors publish books every year. If that money is paid between them, it is not a lot of money.”

Is it possible to make a living from royalties?

Writer Mohiuddin Ahmad thinks that it is not easy to take writing as a livelihood.

“Now how to live life, everyone thinks in his own way. If one thinks of living a middle class life, it is possible by writing. But the work is very challenging.”

Fiction writer Swakrit Noman feels that a writer’s fame also has a kind of monetary value. When one gets recognition as a writer by writing a book, it plays a role in his personal life in many ways and also benefits him financially.

He commented, “My three novels did not sell much. Good sales started from the fourth novel. My book has sold well in this year’s fair as well. Since my book is selling well, my social status is also increasing. Getting invited to various television talk shows or seminars. Some people are inviting me with honor. The fact that they are inviting me to seminars or talk shows with honor, I consider that as an income as a writer.

Anisul Haque also thinks that if there is pressure to meet the expenses of the family by writing, then the quality of writing will be lost.

He said, “Then you have to think about writing a book, what does the reader want? Which book will sell more, if the book is not sold, the money will not come. I don’t think it will improve the quality of writing.

“Bangladesh has not yet developed the conditions to make a living by writing books. As I write on the sidelines of the journalism profession. Zafar Iqbal Sir is involved in teaching. Sadat Hossain is among the writers of this generation, he also writes from another profession.

Mohammad Nazim Uddin thinks that the book market in Bangladesh is very big. But it has not been possible to reach everyone yet.

“We lack good writing. Along with that, good writing marketing should also be emphasized. We have many movie watchers and book readers too. It requires good writing and conveying it to the reader. All Bengalis spread around the world are our readers. My book was published from India, but I got money from there too. It is also called remittance. There is potential for our book market in India.”