Legal action will be taken against writers and publishers if any book hurting religious sentiment or disrupting communal harmony is published at this year's Amar Ekushey Book Fair, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia has said.
He made the comments while inspecting the security measures at the annual event's venues—Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka—on Thursday morning.
"We have requested writers and publishers not to bring any book that can hurt religious sentiments, or instigate communal violence," he said.
A committee under Bangla Academy, aside from police detectives, has been formed to monitor books scheduled to be published for the month-long book fair that is slated to start on February 1.
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“If we receive information about any such book, the committee will evaluate them first. Then, legal measures will follow, if necessary, in line with the law, related to the type of crime,” he said.
He furthered that DMP will provide additional security to any publisher or author, if the necessity arises.
"We are taking all necessary measures to ensure foolproof security during this year's book fair," he said. "Both venues will be under CCTV coverage and security will be beefed up inside the perimeters."
Suhrawardy Udyan will have three entrances and two exits, while Bangla Academy will have two entrances and one exit. "Everyone will have to go through a metal detector and physical searches," Asaduzzaman said. "Visitors will not be allowed to enter the fair with handbags, backpacks, plus flammable and sharp materials."
The DMP chief added that fire response, SWAT, and bomb disposal teams will be on standby.