No question of censorship in publication of books: Farooki

Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki

Dhaka, Feb 1 - The Interim Government’s Cultural Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki on Saturday stated that there is no question of censorship in publishing books, and the government is fully committed to freedom of expression and writing.

“The interim government stands on the spirit of July, and one of the key aspects of this spirit is the freedom of expression. As a result, there is no question of the police or anyone else reviewing any book before it goes for publishing,” the Cultural Adviser wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday.

The statement came from the Cultural Adviser to clarify a misleading situation, which is rooted in a Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) press briefing on Friday at the capital’s Suhrawardy Udyan, where DMP briefed the reporters after evaluating the security protocol at this year's Amar Ekushey Book Fair, which was later inaugurated on Saturday.

Answering a question at the press briefing, a senior DMP official said that the DMP suggested to Bangla Academy that the manuscripts of the new books that will be published in the future should be submitted to Bangla Academy in advance to make sure the netizen’s social security and communal harmony; and any anti-national statements or publications that destabilizes the government should not be included in the fair, adding that the DMP wants this system to be introduced from the 2026 Amar Ekushey Book Fair.

The statement sparked controversies among the netizens and created a buzz on social media platforms, and earlier on Saturday at an event, Farooki clarified the government’s stance regarding the DMP suggestion to the academy.

Inaugurating the National Poetry Festival at the Central Library premises of Dhaka University this Saturday morning, the Cultural Adviser stated: “A news report in the media is creating misunderstandings, where a police officer is being quoted as saying that the Bangla Academy or the police should be allowed to read the book before its publishing. This is unbelievable and ridiculous, and not even close to our government's policies."

An explanation has been sought from the police officer cited in various newspapers since yesterday regarding this matter, Farooki later wrote on his Facebook post on Saturday night.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) also clarified the issue via a press release sent to the media on Saturday from its Media and Public Relations Department, stating that no advice or decision has been taken by the police regarding the vetting or approval of books to be published in the future Amar EKushey Book Fairs; further requesting everyone to refrain from unnecessary misinterpretations and propaganda. - UNB