UPL says stands by every book after Banglabazar showroom attack over 'The Unfinished Memoirs'
UPL said its manuscripts are independently reviewed, and books are published based on the assessments and opinions of the reviewers.
University Press Limited (UPL) has said it "stands by every book" it publishes after an incident at its Banglabazar showroom over the sale of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's 'The Unfinished Memoirs'.
In a statement on the incident published today (29 September) on its verified Facebook page, UPL said some individuals behaved aggressively at its Banglabazar showroom around 5:30pm yesterday (28 September), demanding that the marketing of 'The Unfinished Memoirs' be stopped, claiming that the book was banned.
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The individuals pulled down the shop's shutter and subjected two UPL sales employees to harassment. The employees were later taken to the Faridabad police outpost and detained for a while before being released, according to the publisher.
UPL said its representatives informed those questioning the sale that the book was not banned.
"A book can only be banned by following a specific process, informing all concerned and taking legal steps. We are not aware of anything of this sort having happened in the case of this book," the publisher said.
It added that if the government or a court takes any such action, UPL would comply with the law.
"We believe the incident is extremely shameful and unfortunate for our nation," UPL said.
UPL says it has faced pressure under successive governments
The publisher said it had faced pressure over books under almost every government, with objections raised by governments, individuals and institutions over various publications.
UPL said that during the previous government, the Dhaka University Syndicate had asked it to apologise for one of its publications. It also said it had faced repeated pressure over books by Moudud Ahmed.
The publisher said it had also published a book by Professor Asif Nazrul on the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty during a "highly unfavourable period", based on the opinions of its reviewers.
It added that UPL had faced government harassment after refusing to publish some manuscripts.
"As a publisher, we have tried our best to ignore these pressures," UPL said, adding that its commitment to professional standards had resulted in commercial losses on several occasions, but it had never compromised its fundamental publishing standards.
UPL said its manuscripts are independently reviewed, and books are published based on the assessments and opinions of the reviewers.
"This confidence is the foundation of our self-respect, and with its strength, UPL has never withdrawn any book under pressure," it said.
The publisher also noted that advertisements for 'The Unfinished Memoirs' continue to appear on its page.
It said it had recently published a book by Barrister Abdur Razzaq on the history of Jamaat-e-Islami after expert reviewers found that it contained material of significant importance to Bangladesh's history.
UPL calls for protection of academic freedom
UPL said 'The Unfinished Memoirs' was an important book in the history of Bangladesh, containing necessary context on the creation of the country and the origins of the Liberation War.
"UPL publishes every book with responsibility," the statement said. "If this book is duly banned by a responsible authority, UPL will act in accordance with the law."
However, the publisher said that as an academic publisher, it believed intervention in the publication and marketing of books that do not incite criminal offences was harmful to the overall development of knowledge and culture.
UPL recalled that during the previous government, it had protested against the decision to shut Adarsha Prakashan's stall at the Ekushey Book Fair without formally banning its three books under the law.
"Interference in the space for free thought and academic freedom is against the interests of the development of the state and society," UPL said.
The publisher urged the government and all concerned to refrain from interfering in free thought and academic freedom and to prevent such interference.
It also called on writers, readers, teachers, journalists, fellow publishers, political leaders with democratic aspirations, members of the government and others to stand against what it described as an attack on academic publishing.
UPL further urged the state and society to take firm action against any illegal activities that could establish a culture of intimidation in the publishing industry.
