Bangla Academy shrugs off responsibility to check blasphemous books at Ekushey fair

Bangla Academy has sought to distance itself from monitoring books with blasphemous content at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair saying that it is a responsibility of the home ministry.

At a press conference on the forthcoming fair, Academy Director General Prof Shamsuzzaman Khan said, "It is not my responsibility to hunt for books hurting religious sentiments. That's for the home ministry to see. We shall not speak a word on that."

The month-long fair begins on Feb 1.

Last year police with consent from the Bangla Academy, shut down a stall selling the book "Islam Bitorko" on charges that the book contained inciting comments on religion.

Bo-Dwip publication owner, the book's editor Shamsuzzoha Manik, a salesman and the owner of the press that printed the book were arrested.

The ban on Robin Ahsan's publishing house Shrabon Prokashoni from putting up a stall at the fair this year invited severe public criticism against the Bangla Academy.

Robin contributed to the movement demanding the release of Manik.

Under fire, the Academy reverted its decision and allowed Shrabon to put up a stall in the fair.

After a recent meeting with Academy representatives, police said that action against books hurting religious sentiments would be taken this year too.

Shamsuzzaman was apparently annoyed with the questions relating to the police statement.

"If there is an attack on the Book Fair for one book, the entire stall shall be shut down. But on that we shall have a separate talk," he said.

Clause 13.13 of the Ekushey Book Fair Guidelines forbids selling, distributing or exhibiting any books, magazines, etc. that may threaten to injure religious sentiments, are vulgar in taste or critical of national leaders.

The guidelines also state that books deemed as ‘failing publication standard’ by the fair organising committee must be removed from the fair within the stipulated time.

Speaking of poor quality of books, Shamsuzzaman blamed "seasonal publishers" for the fall in quality.

Inaugural function

Like every year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the Amar Ekushey Book Fair on Feb 1 at 3pm.

Minister of Cultural Affairs Asaduzzaman Noor shall be the special guest.

The event will be presided over by Bangla Academy President Emeritus Prof Anisuzzaman.

The Bangla Academy Literary Awards 2016 shall also be given away during the event.

The prime minister will also be presented with Bangla Academy publication, "Ocean of Sorrow", the English translation of Mir Mosharraf Hossain's "Bishad Sindhu" and "100 poems from Bangladesh", published from Germany.