Bangla Academy authorities yesterday shut down the stalls of two publication houses at the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela, with allegations of “selling books that hurt religious sentiments” and selling pirated books.
Dr Jalal Ahmed, the fair committee member secretary, said the fair authorities shut down Rodela Prokashani’s stall for selling and displaying “Nabi Muhammder 23 Bachhar” on grounds of “hurting religious sentiments” and “defamatory comments on Islam and its prophet Hazrat Muhammad.”
They also shut down the stall of Boi Poka for selling pirated books, he added.
The book, which had been published by Rodela Prokashani, is a translation of Iranian writer Ali Dashti’s “23 years: a study of prophetic career of Muhammad” which was originally published in 1985. The work of translation was done by duo Abul Kashem and Saikat Chowdhury.
Dr Jalal Ahmed said: “According to article 13.13 of Fair Regulations 2015, none is allowed to sell books at the fair that can hurt religious sentiments.
“The publication house breached the guidelines of the fair and it was banned accordingly.”
On Monday, the stall of Rodela Prokashani was shut down with a “closed” notice.
The website of the publication house was also hacked yesterday evening, reportedly by a group named Cyber 71 that left warning messages on the website “in protest of defamatory comment on Islam and its prophet”.
Islamist political group Hefajat-e-Islam Bangladesh also protested against the publication and further demanded confiscation and banning of the book in the country.
“This book contains false, fabricated and misleading information about Islam, its prophet Hazrat Muhammad, and the Quran,” they said in a statement made by secretary general Junaid Babunagari of Hefajat-e-Islam Bangladesh.
No one from Rodela Prokashoni, including publisher Riaz Chowdhury, was available to speak to this correspondent.
However, Rodela Prokashani claims on their Facebook page: “Rodela is a progressive and creative publication of free thoughts. Rodela invites the writers who bring progressive, thoughtful and research-based knowledge to its readers.”
Bangla Academy sources said two other publication houses, Shishighor and Shishu Prokash, received warnings from the authority on copyright issues.
Sixteen days since the fair began, the number of visitors has risen and so has the level of enthusiasm despite the ongoing political violence across the country which had initially caused a low turnout at the fair.
With 98 more new books that arrived at the fair yesterday, the total has now reached 2,098.
