I’m sure the newly-seated IPA President, Gvantsa Jobava, will be addressing this development, that impacts more than 170 million people in this wonderful South Asian country.
In a significant new development for the publishing industry in Bangladesh, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police have requested the Bangla Academy – the country’s leading literary and cultural institution – to monitor books sold at the annual Ekushey Boi Mela and to implement a system of pre-approval for all publications from 2026.
Unsurprisingly, this move has sparked concerns among publishers, authors, and free speech advocates about censorship and its impact on creative expression.
Background
The month-long Ekushey Boi Mela, as TNPS regulars will know, is held every February in Dhaka, and is one of the largest and most celebrated book fairs in South Asia. It commemorates the Bengali Language Movement and serves as a platform for publishers, authors, and readers to engage with literature and culture. The fair is organised by the Bangla Academy.
However, recent years have seen increasing scrutiny of content at the fair, with authorities expressing concerns about books that may contain “objectionable” or “anti-state” material.
With the regime change last year, little seems to have changed in this respect. Rather, the police’s latest request for pre-approval marks a significant escalation in political censorship
Key Developments
Police Request for Monitoring and Pre-Approval: The Dhaka Metropolitan Police has formally asked the Bangla Academy to monitor books sold at the Ekushey Boi Mela and to ensure that all publications are pre-approved before being sold.
The proposed new system would require publishers to submit manuscripts for review prior to publication, starting in 2026.
Rationale Cited by Authorities
Police officials have cited the need to prevent the dissemination of content that could “harm social harmony” or “spread misinformation.” Concerns have been raised about books that allegedly promote “anti-state” or “anti-religious” sentiments.
Publishers and authors rightly argue the move will stifle creativity and freedom of expression, and open the door to arbitrary censorship and delays in publication.
While the Bangla Academy has not yet issued an official statement, reports suggest that it is under significant pressure to comply with the police’s request.
Read more:
The Daily Star: Bangla Academy asked to monitor books at Ekushey Boi Mela.
BDNews24: Scrutinise Manuscripts before Ekushey Book fair: DMP.
I’m sure the newly-seated IPA President, Gvantsa Jobava, will be addressing this development, that impacts more than 170 million people in this wonderful South Asian country.
This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.
