Censorship Strikes Again: Attack on Taslima Nasreen Books at Dhaka Book Fair

Dhaka - In a disturbing echo of past censorship, the Amar Ekushey Book Fair in Dhaka became the latest battleground for free expression. On February 10, 2025, a group of madrasa students attacked the Sabyasachi Prokashona stall, protesting the display of books written by exiled author Taslima Nasreen. The attackers vandalized the stall and assaulted publisher Shatabdi Bhav, expressing outrage over the book Chumbon (Kiss).  

This incident is not an isolated one. In 2012, a book launch by the same author was canceled at the Kolkata Book Fair due to protests from fundamentalist groups. Despite restrictions, the book was released outside the scheduled venue, demonstrating the resilience of free speech advocates.  

The recent attack in Dhaka has drawn sharp criticism. Taslima Nasreen condemned the assault, accusing authorities of enabling extremist activities and warning about the growing influence of radical elements in Bangladesh.  

In response, the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus strongly denounced the attack, calling it a violation of citizens' rights and national laws. Authorities have launched an investigation and pledged stricter security measures to prevent similar incidents.