Tutul won't stop

Still recuperating, Ahmedur Rashid Tutul, proprietor of Shuddhaswor, remains unflinching in his commitment to publishing. He says he will not compromise his principle to publish books necessary for the “awakening of people”.

“May be I'll face tougher challenges when I get back to work, but there is no way I'm going to move away even a little bit from my commitment,” he said in an email correspondence with The Daily Star.

“I dream of a modern, democratic and progressive Bangladesh -- a society that is safe for freethinking based on knowledge. Everything I publish is aimed at realising that dream,” he continued. 

He has been released from Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Tuesday, but he is far from recovering from the trauma left by the horrendous attack.

“I still can't get rid of the image of somebody stabbing me while screaming, 'Allahu Akbar',” he said.

Besides, he finds it difficult to talk because of his hearing loss caused by blood seeping into his ear, forming clots.

“But the most difficult task of my life now is to pass the time. I can't wait to go back to my office,” said Tutul.

Tutul and two writer-bloggers Ranadipam Basu and Tareque Rahim were brutally attacked at his Lalmatia office on October 31. In another grisly attack on the same day,  Faisal Arefin Dipan of Jagriti Prokashani was killed. Both Tutul and Dipan are publishers of slain secularist writer-blogger Avijit Roy.

“My family members are reeling under fear of further attacks. Police have been doing all kinds of things to provide me with security but a sense of safety will only grow when the criminals behind the attacks are caught and brought to courts,” he said.

“For me, safety means I won't have to be afraid of attacks only for expressing my opinion,” said Tutul, whose publishing house promotes the motto: “awakening the mind, not pleasing it.”

Books, in Tutul's opinion, can play a vital role in containing the spread of religious extremism.

“Books are the most powerful tool to change one's perceptions,” he said, adding, “But first they have to make sure the publishers can put out creative and tasteful books without fear and then develop and properly manage public libraries even at the union level.”

He opined that the state should realise the importance of the publishing sector. “Education, culture and sensibility add value to people's lives. These things are mainly spread through books.  Development does not only mean massive construction projects.”

He could not help expressing his feeling of awkwardness as law enforcers have placed guards at his residence to ensure his security. “It is not normal to have policemen in the house or a gunman accompanying you on the road,” he said.

“I want to be able to walk on the streets alone and have a cup of tea from a roadside vendor,” he added.