Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam has said that police would be monitoring books at the Ekushey Book Fair and would make sure that books of a religiously provocative nature were not allowed in the fair.
At a coordination meeting on security at the Ekushey Book Fair, held at DMP headquarters on Tuesday, he stated: "Books that hurt religious sentiments cannot be allowed at the book fair."
“Though Bangla Academy organizes the book fair, we have become part of the fair,” said the Commissioner, adding that adequate security measures had been taken by the DMP so that no untoward incident could take place at the fair venue.
Mohammad Anwar Hossain, secretary of Bangla Academy, talked about security and management of the book fair. He said that 538 organizations would participate in the book fair this year. As many as 411 organizations would be allocated stalls at Suhrawardy Udyan and 127 would have stalls in the Bangla Academy premises.
Besides, there would be a children's corner, mosques, toilet management, food parks and first aid centres at the book fair. The monitoring committee would continue to supervise the book fair, he added.
More than 300 CCTV cameras are being installed to ensure security. The book fair boundaries are being constructed of bamboo and tin and publishers have been asked to keep fire extinguishers compulsorily in each bookstore, added Anwar.
The meeting was attended by the Proctor of Dhaka University Professor AKM Golam Rabbani, senior officials of DMP, Ministry of Cultural Affairs Deputy Secretary Zohra Khatun, Vice-President of Bangladesh Book Publishers Association Shyam Pal, representatives of the government organizations, including intelligence agencies and fire service department.
Bangla Academy authorities have confirmed to Dhaka Tribune that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would formally inaugurate the book fair on February 2.
