Wed Feb 12 07:28:35 UTC 2025: ## Protesters Storm Dhaka Book Fair, Attacking Stall Selling Taslima Nasrin’s Books
**DHAKA, BANGLADESH** – A group of protesters violently disrupted the Amar Ekushey Book Fair in Dhaka on Monday, February 10, 2025, attacking a stall displaying books by exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin. The incident, which involved members of the “Towhidi Janata” group, led to the temporary closure of the Sabyasachi Prokashoni stall and sparked widespread condemnation.
Videos circulating online show protesters, many in Islamic attire, surrounding the stall and forcing the publisher, Shatabdi Vobo, to apologize. Police intervened, but the protesters initially continued to encircle the police control room.
Following the incident, Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus, ordered an immediate investigation into the “disorderly behavior,” demanding those responsible be brought to justice. The Bangla Academy also formed a seven-member committee to investigate the attack, with a three-day deadline for its findings. The academy clarified that it had not banned any books or shut down any stalls.
Mahfuj Alam, a key leader of Bangladesh’s Anti-Discrimination Students Movement and considered a de facto minister in the interim government, issued a strong warning, stating that anyone involved in the mob violence will face strict legal consequences.
Nasrin, known for her outspoken feminist views and criticism of religious fundamentalism, has been living in exile since 1994, currently residing in India. Her works have garnered both acclaim and controversy, drawing the ire of orthodox religious groups who have issued fatwas against her in the past. The attack on her publisher’s stall highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding freedom of expression in Bangladesh. The Sabyasachi Prokashoni stall remains closed as of Tuesday.
First Piper 