Thousands of visitors at both the venues of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair demanded punishment for the attackers of eminent writer Humayun Azad.
In 2004, on this very day, the freethinker was brutally attacked by a fundamentalist group near the Bangla Academy inside the Dhaka University campus.
Recalling the vicious attack that led to his death a few months later, the litterateurs and book lovers also pledged to build a non-communal nation.
Demanding punishment for the attackers, the Writer, Reader and Publisher’s Forum arranged a human chain in front of Burdwan House, the main office of the Bangla Academy.
Osman Gani, proprietor of Agami Prokashani, said: “Humayun Azad was attacked just a while after he left the stall of Agami Prokashoni. The attack is a part of a conspiracy by the local and international fundamentalist forces.”
Mouli Azad, daughter of the late writer, told the Dhaka Tribune: “I have been waiting for justice for ten long years now. Since the pro-liberation war party is in power, I hope prompt action would be taken.”
“The attack on Humayun Azad was an attack on the culture, literature and freethinking,” said Maruf Rosul, one of the key organisers of the Gonojagoron Moncho.
He criticised Bangla Academy for not holding any special programme to mark the day.
Poets Mohon Raihan, Ayat Ali Patwari, Aminur Rahman Sultan, journalist Anjon Roy, and folk singer Fokir Alamgir attended the human chain. The organisers called upon all the visitors, both inside Suhrawardy Udyan and the Bangla Academy, to raise their hands from their respective positions to express solidarity with the demand.
In the evening Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy’s book “Bangladesh Niye” was unveiled at Nazrul Moncho on the Bangla Academy premises.
Published from Amar Prokashoni, the book is a collection of posts made by the politician on social networking site Facebook.
Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University AAMS Arefin Siddique, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid Bipu and Daily Samakal’s Editor Golam Sarwar unveiled the book in presence of Managing Director of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha Abul Kalam Azad.
Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif, special assistant to the Prime Minister, State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Junaid Ahmed Polok also attended the launching ceremony.
A total of 122 new books were published yesterday, the second last day of the fair, including Syed Anwar Hussain’s “Robindranather Itihash Chetona” from Murdhonno Prokashoni, Lutfur Rahman Riton’s “Tukro Smritir Marble Gulo” from Bangla Prokash.
A discussion titled “Muktijudhher Adorsher Nobojagriti O Torun Projonmo” was held at the central stage where Dr Sonia Nishat Amin presented the keynote paper. Presided over by Professor Muntasir Mamun, the programme was attended by, among others, Shahriar Kabir, and Nasiruddin Yousuf Bachchu.
Yesterday the fair witnessed a huge crowd as the month-long festival comes to an end today.
