Staff Reporter :
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam has said that police won’t allow to sell provocative books at the Ekushey Book Fair in order to maintain peace and order.
The decision was taken at the coordination meeting on as to how to maintain security in and around the Ekushey Book Fair held at the DMP Headquarters on Tuesday.
“Books that hurt religious sentiments cannot be allowed in the book fair,” the DMP chief said.
“Though Bangla Academy organizes the book fair, we have become part thereof ,” said the Commissioner, adding that adequate security measures had been taken by the DMP so that no untoward incident could take place at the fair venue.
Mohammad Anwar Hossain, Secretary of Bangla Academy, discussed about security and management of the book fair.
He said that 538 organizations would participate in the book fair this year. Of them, 411 organizations would be allocated stalls at Suhrawardy Udyan and 127 on the Bangla Academy premises.
Besides, there would be a children’s corner, prayers facility, toilet management, food parks and first aid centres. The committee would continue to supervise the book fair, he added.
More than 300 CCTV cameras are being installed to ensure security. The book fair’s boundaries will b fenced by bamboos and tin. The publishers have been asked to keep fire extinguishers compulsorily in each bookstore, according to him.
The meeting was attended by the Proctor of Dhaka University Professor AKM Golam Rabbani, senior officials of DMP, Ministry of Cultural Affairs Deputy Secretary Zohra Khatun, Vice-President of Bangladesh Book Publishers Association Shyam Pal, representatives of the government, intelligence agencies and fire service department officials.
