New Delhi/Dhaka: A group of protesters stormed a book stall at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair in Dhaka on Monday, objecting to the display of books by exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen.
The incident, which unfolded on the 10th day of the fair, has led to widespread condemnation and prompted Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus, to order an investigation into the “disorderly behaviour” surrounding the protest, according to a media report.
The group, identifying themselves as members of Towhidi Janata, surrounded the Sabyasachi Prokashoni stall at Suhrawardy Udyan, where Nasreen’s books were being exhibited.
Chanting slogans, the protesters created a tense standoff, forcing police to intervene and escort the publisher, Shatabdi Vobo, to a nearby control room in a bid to restore order.
The protesters then encircled the police control room, escalating the situation.
In the wake of the incident, Yunus issued a directive for authorities to take swift legal action against those responsible, emphasising that such behaviour undermines the rights of citizens and violates the laws of Bangladesh.
“This kind of disorderly conduct is unacceptable,” a statement from the Chief Adviser’s Office read.
The incident has led to further actions from the Bangla Academy, which has formed a seven-member committee tasked with investigating the disruption and the attack on the publishing house.
The committee has been given three working days to submit its findings. In a statement on Tuesday, the academy described the incident as “undesirable” and reiterated that the probe would be impartial.
Despite the chaos, Bangla Academy clarified that it had not shut down any stalls or banned any books.
The Sabyasachi Prokashoni stall, which was the target of the protest, has remained closed since the incident.
In a stern response to the mob violence, Mahfuj Alam, a prominent leader of Bangladesh’s Anti-Discrimination Students Movement and a key figure in the interim government, warned that those involved would face strict legal consequences.
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“Anyone engaging in such violence will be treated as lawbreakers and held accountable,” Alam stated, reinforcing that no further warnings would be given.
Social media footage from the scene shows a group of men, dressed in Islamic attire, confronting the stall staff and forcing an individual inside to apologise while holding his ears, further inflaming the tensions.
Taslima Nasreen, whose writings first garnered international acclaim in the early 1990s, has long been a controversial figure in Bangladesh.
Her outspoken critiques of fundamentalism and societal hypocrisy led to fatwas against her from orthodox religious leaders, forcing her to flee Bangladesh in 1994.
Nasreen has lived in exile in India since 2004, with her residence permit extended for another year in October 2024.
