Scrutinise manuscripts at Ekushey Book Fair to prevent ‘instability’, says DMP

“From next year we hope to ensure that manuscripts will be submitted to Bangla Academy for scrutiny before publishing,” says Additional Commissioner Nazrul Islam

Police have requested Bangla Academy to scrutinise the manuscripts of books at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair in order to block any content that could “create instability”. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police want to introduce the system from 2026 iteration of the major cultural event.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner SM Sazzat Ali and Additional Commissioner (Crime and Ops) SN Nazrul Islam shared their thoughts with the media on Friday while visiting the Ekushey Book Fair premises at the Suhrawardy Udyan to observe the security measures.

The contents of certain books available at the book fair had previously caused controversy.

Asked whether any steps would be taken to prevent such incidents in the future, Sazzat said:

“We had a coordination meeting attended by Bangla Academy officials. We urged them to ensure that no book containing inflammatory words or content should be available at the stalls in the fair.”

“They must present books at the stalls after scanning and vetting them. I hope they will perform their duties properly.”

“We have recommended to Bangla Academy that the manuscripts of new books published at the fair be submitted to the academy beforehand,” said Additional Commissioner Nazrul.

“They will read and scrutinise them to ensure that no content that could disrupt social life or communal harmony is published. No content that is seditious or destabilises the government should be made available at the book fair. We have made this request to Bangla Academy.”

“We hope to ensure from next year that manuscripts will be submitted to Bangla Academy for scrutiny before publishing. A book will be published only when Bangla Academy permits it,” says the additional commissioner.

When asked about the issue, Ekushey Book Fair Secretary Sarkar Amin said they had not received any official letter from the police in this regard. “There’s a policy for the book fair and it is being conducted in line with the policy,” he said.