The Academic and Creative Publishers Association of Bangladesh (ACPAB) has called for transparency in the book procurement process of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, to ensure the welfare of creative publishers, who are now passing a hard time due to the coronavirus crisis.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the association expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for taking the initiative to procure books worth Tk150 crore through the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education.
However, the association expressed concerns over the transparency in selection of books to be procured under the initiative and demanded a government circular inviting creative writers and publishers to submit their lists along with book samples to the ministry for scrutiny.
The statement also said many writers in Bangladesh have written books on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Liberation War, and therefore, scrutiny is a must before finalising book list.
ACPAB also called for forming an inclusive selection committee, consisting of writers, intellectuals, and representatives from the government, to scrutinise the lists of books to be procured.
Already, the association has sent a letter to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education in this regard, said the statement signed by ACPAB President Farid Ahmed.
Prominent writers, including Hasan Azizul Huq, Nirmalendu Goon, Muntasir Mamoon, Ramendu Majumdar, Selina Hossain, Abul Momen, Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, Subrata Barua, Morshed Shafiul Hasan, Ashim Saha, Abul Ahsan Chowdhury, Faridur Reza Sagar, Imdadul Haq Milan, Amirul Islam and Anisul Hoque, also pledged support for the demands.
