Protest against arrest of publisher of book on Islam

The Amar Ekushey Book Fair has seen a protest against the closing of a bookstall set up by a publishing house and the arrest of three persons over the publication of a book on Islam.

The agitation was arranged under the banner of ‘Writers-Publishers-Readers-Public’ at the TSC on the Dhaka University campus on Wednesday afternoon.

Leaders and activists of several student organisations also joined it.

Addressing police, Chhatra Union President Lucky Akter said, “You can’t catch killers of Avijit (Roy) but you can arrest people of free thought even after seeing the status (on the social media) of the killers.”

Writer Roy was hacked to death allegedly by religious zealots at the TSC during last year’s book fair.

Elsewhere, several other writers and bloggers were killed in similar attacks.

Shahbagh police said on Tuesday arrested three persons over the publication of a compilation book called 'Islam Bitorko', which was alleged to contain elements that might hurt religious sentiments.

The arrestees are publishing firm Ba-Dwip's owner Shamsuzzoha Manik, who is also the editor of the book, its marketing division head Shamsul Alam, and printing house Shabdakoli Printers' proprietor Taslimuddin Kajal.

Police earlier closed the Ba-Dwip stall that had 'Islam Bitorko' (Debate on Islam) on its shelves at the Book Fair on Monday.

Speakers at the agitation said extremists were vocal on social media against ‘Islam Bitorko’.

Akter said, “The book is a compilation, which does not contain any write-up by Samsuzzoha Manik. Bangla Academy has ordered confiscation of the book and arrest of its editor without going through it.”

Blogger Baki Billah asked why Manik had been put on remand. “Has Shamsuzzoha Manik killed someone, torched vehicles, instigated anyone to murder someone?”

DMP Ramna Division Deputy Commissioner Abdul Baten said on Tuesday 81 copies of the book had been seized. "We've read the book and found that it has gravely hurt religious sentiments."