Beware of 'hurting religious sentiment'
Police yesterday set off panic among writers and publishers by warning of legal action for selling books that could “hurt religious sentiment, incite communal violence and civic rights”.
"Plainclothes police officials will monitor if any such books are displayed. Actions will be taken against the authors and publishers if such books are found,” Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia said.
The month-long Ekushey book fair begins on Bangla Academy premises and Suhrawardy Udyan today.
Asaduzzaman said it was primarily the responsibility of the authors and the publishers to review whether their books contained any such elements. Later, Bangla Academy, the organising authority of the fair, will scrutinise the books.
Asked if this is an attack on free-thinking, the DMP chief said, "We are not against free-thinking. But if someone hurts anyone's religious sentiment and instigates communal violence, that does not fall in the category of free-thinking. We will take action for any offence in line with the law.”
Writers and publishers reacted sharply to his comments.
"This will have a disastrous impact on writers, publishers and readers," said publisher Robin Ahsan of Sraban Prokasoni, adding they are already in panic.
He said the book fair was a place for exercising free-thinking and that it had a history of secular and non-communal spirit. "I never heard anywhere in the world that police take such preventive action against books or writers and publishers."
A book maybe banned if readers complain about its content that has a serious negative impact on the society, he said, adding, "But such comments from the DMP commissioner may incite the fundamentalists."
Another publisher echoed this view, saying "What kind of policing is this?”
Mazharul Islam, President of Academic and Creative Publishers Association of Bangladesh, said it was not law enforcers' job to check books in the fair. “Bangla Academy should look into the matter.”
Contacted, Prof Shamsuzzaman Khan, director general of Bangla Academy, said, “It's his [DMP chief's] statement. Bangla Academy has no relations with his remarks.”
Last year, the Bangla Academy authority shut down the book stall of Ba-Dwip Prakashanon for selling a book that “hurt religious sentiments”.
It also shut down two stalls -- Rongin Ful and Nil Pori -- for selling pirated books.
This year the academy arranged stalls for 409 publications, 80 on the the academy premises and 329 in Suhrawardy Udyan.
Sayeed Zakir Hossain of Adorn Publications said, “We are satisfied with the overall arrangement.”
Bangle Academy publications will launch 101 books this year. The fair will remain open for all from 3:00pm to 8:30pm on workdays, from 11:00am to 8:30pm on holidays and from 8:00am to 8:30pm on February 21.
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