The air was heavy at Amar Ekushey Boi Mela yesterday as writers, publishers and readers joined together to protest the murder of secularist blogger and writer Avijit Roy.
They also commemorated late author and scholar Humayun Azad, standing in silence raising their fists in memory of the writers, both believed to be killed by the Islamic extremists.
Avijit was hacked to death on Thursday night, while Humayun was attacked on February 27, 2004, eventually dying six months later. Both were attacked on their way back from the book fair.
The protesting publishers, writers and readers gathered around 6pm in front of the Burdwan House in Bangla Academy, holding the slogan “Books Against Violence.”
Addressing the protest, Shamsuzzaman Khan, director general of the Bangla Acdemy, said: “It is an attack on civil society when alternative thinkers and writers are killed by militants. We demand immediate justice of this murder.”
He said the fair will be open at 10am today, instead of the usual 11am, in protest of these killings.
Osman Gani, president of the Academic and Creative Publishers’ Association of Bangladesh, said: “Humayun Azad and Avijit Roy will survive in their writings. They (the militants) cannot kill their thoughts and writings.”
He urged the readers to show their protest by reading their books.
Claiming this attack “is on Bangladesh,” Dhaka University’s Professor Muntassir Mamoon said: “Our grief must be turned into our strength now. These militant groups will not spare anyone.”
“These murders are happening because the killers of Humayun Azad were not punished. We demand justice immediately,” said Professor Rafikullah Khan of Dhaka University.
Last weekend sees heavy traffic
The first day of this weekend, also the second last day of the fair, saw a heavy sales of books. As soon as the fair gates were opened at 11am a good number of visitors poured inside the premises of the Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan.
As the day progressed, the number of visitors increased, and by the sun set, the entire venue was packed. Stall attendants were seen incredibly busy attending the customers.
“It is difficult to buy books like this, in this heavy crowd where even moving is quite hard,” said Adil Rahman, who came from Savar to visit the fair.
The Bangla Academy will hold a concluding ceremony at 6pm today, to be attended by Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzman Noor as chief guest.
