This year, the institutions participating in the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela 2023 have already been allocated stall-pavilions on the basis of application. However, the publishing house “Adarsh Prakashani” was not allotted a stall due to allegations of keeping controversial books.
A letter given to Adarsh Prakashani informed that the decision was taken at the book fair management committee meeting on Sunday afternoon.
After the official stall allocation on January 22, Mahabubur Rahman, publisher of the organization, applied again on January 24 for stall allocation on the condition of not keeping the “controversial” book in the stall and following the rules of the book fair.
But the organizing committee of the fair is sticking to its decision of not granting him permission.
Mahabubur Rahman said: “They probably meant that Adarsh will be allotted a stall if Faham Abdus Salam's book ‘Bengali Mediocrity Sondhane' is not kept. Bangla Academy policy has a condition of not keeping any book if they have objection. But the stall was not allotted despite the standard application (on the condition of not keeping the book).”