Civil society members, writers, artists condemn attack on Ekushey Book Fair stall, call for action

A group of 206 civil society representatives and a collective of writers, artists, and rights activists have issued separate statements strongly condemning the attack on the Sabyasachi Prakashani stall at the Ekushey Book Fair yesterday.

The incident, carried out by a group following prior threats on social media, has been described as a direct assault on freedom of expression.

According to the statement from civil society representatives, the attack was a "heinous act by religious extremists" that resulted in the physical and mental harassment of publisher Shatabdi Vobo.

They outlined four key demands, including the immediate prosecution of those involved, strengthening security measures at the book fair, and ensuring that no stall is closed due to external pressure or threats.

Crowd besiege stall at Ekushey Book Fair for displaying Taslima Nasrin’s book

They also urged legal action against extremist groups involved in attacks on cultural events, shrines, and public memorials.

The statement further criticised the role of the authorities, asserting that law enforcement must take decisive action rather than merely issuing warnings through social media.

It demanded that the government formally recognise individuals involved in such attacks as criminals and prosecute them accordingly.

Similarly, a separate statement from writers, artists, and rights activists condemned the incident as part of a broader pattern of attacks on freedom of speech and cultural expression.

The signatories referenced previous acts of violence, including the attack on poet Humayun Azad in 2004 and the murders of writer Avijit Roy and publisher Faisal Arefin Dipon in 2015, to highlight a recurring trend of threats against dissenting voices.

The statement also criticised the security forces present at the book fair, claiming that their inaction during the attack demonstrated the ineffectiveness of current security measures.

It further accused the authorities of historically failing to act against religious extremism, alleging that previous incidents of violence had been met with government inaction or indirect support.

Both statements demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible for the attack and significant reinforcement of security at the book fair to prevent similar incidents.

They also called on the director general of the Bangla Academy and other relevant officials to take responsibility for the security lapse.

Finally, the writers and artists urged all pro-democracy individuals to unite in resisting such violence, emphasising that freedom of expression and cultural rights are fundamental to a democratic society.

They reaffirmed their commitment to defending these rights and called for collective action against any attempts to suppress free thought and creativity.

Sarwar Farooki condemns the attack

Condemning the attack, Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki in a post on his verified Facebook page today, said, "What happened at Bangla Academy yesterday is highly condemnable. I was on a flight at the time but have been in constant touch since landing, gathering explanations and analyses of the incident. The academy has already formed a probe committee, which will submit a report within three working days, and the culprits will be brought to justice."

"Besides, the government's stance is clear — such incidents cannot be allowed to happen again. Let us all refrain from provocative behaviour and be cautious not to fall into any traps that could complicate the achievements of July [uprising]," he added.

Earlier, last night, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus strongly condemned the book fair attack.