Bangla Academy withdraws ban on Shrabon Prokashani

Amid widespread protests from writers, cultural activists and eminent personalities, Bangla Academy today withdrew its ban on Shrabon Prokashani to set up stall in the Amar Ekushey Book Fair for two years.

The academy, also the organiser of the book fair, decided to allot stall to the publishing house on some conditions, Jalal Ahmed, member secretary of the book fair committee, told The Daily Star.

The conditions include anything that hurts religious sentiment cannot be published and the publisher must obey the book fair policies, he added.

READ MORE: Ekushey Book Fair: Publisher banned for stance against academy decision

The decision came this afternoon at a regular meeting of the book fair executive committee.

In a meeting on November 10, the Bangla Academy decided not to allocate any stall for Shrabon Prokashani for two years.

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On December 28, Robin Ahsan, owner of Shrabon Prokashani, submitted an application seeking review of the academy's decision on imposing the ban.

Contacted today, the publisher welcomed the Bangla Academy's decision of withdrawing the ban.

"The executive body has taken the right decision now. The conditions they (Bangla Academy) have attributed will have to be followed mandatorily by all the book fair participants," he said.

He is however yet to get any formal notice in this regard. 

READ MORE: 'Bangla Academy, lift illegal bar on publisher'

Bangla Academy drew widespread flak on the social media after people got to know about its decision on Shrabon Prokashoni.

On the following day, protesters including writers, cultural activists and eminent personalities staged demonstration near the main gate of Bangla Academy in condemnation of its decision.

Why banned?

During this year's book fair, the academy shut down Ba-Dwip Prakashan's stall for selling a book that "hurt religious sentiments". Later, law enforcers arrested three people, including the editor of the "controversial book".

According to Bangla Academy officials, Shrabon Prokashoni had "taken a stance" that could have allowed the book concerned to be sold inside the academy's fair. Hence, the authorities barred the publishing house in the fair for the next two years.

However, Robin denied the allegation saying he did not take any stance regarding selling of the book in the fair, but he along with others had protested the arrests.