UPL defends books after showroom attack
University Press Limited (UPL) has said it “stands by every book” it publishes following an incident at its Banglabazar showroom over the sale of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s The Unfinished Memoirs.
In a statement posted on its verified Facebook page on Tuesday, UPL said a group of people behaved aggressively at its Banglabazar showroom at around 5:30pm on Monday, demanding that the marketing of The Unfinished Memoirs be stopped on the grounds that the book was banned.
According to the publisher, the individuals pulled down the shop’s shutter and harassed two UPL sales employees. The employees were later taken to the Faridabad police outpost and detained for some time before being released, UPL said.
The publisher said its representatives informed those questioning the sale that the book had not been banned.
“A book can only be banned by following a specific process, informing all concerned and taking legal steps,” UPL said, adding that it was not aware of any such action having been taken against the book.
The publisher said it would comply with the law if the government or a court formally bans the book.
“We believe the incident is extremely shameful and unfortunate for our nation,” UPL said.
UPL said it had faced pressure over its publications under almost every government, with objections raised by governments, individuals and institutions over different books.
The publisher 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 written by Moudud Ahmed.
UPL said it had also published a book by Professor Asif Nazrul on the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty during a “highly unfavourable period”, based on assessments by its reviewers.
The publisher added that it 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 caused commercial losses on several occasions but that it had never compromised its basic publishing principles.
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“This confidence is the foundation of our self-respect, and with its strength, UPL has never withdrawn any book under pressure,” it said.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 it contained material of significant importance to the history of Bangladesh.
UPL described The Unfinished Memoirs as an important work in the history of Bangladesh, saying it provides context on the creation of the country and the origins of the Liberation War.
“UPL publishes every book with responsibility,” the statement said, adding that if the book is formally banned by a competent authority, it would act in accordance with the law.
However, the publisher said that, as an academic publisher, it believes intervention in the publication and marketing of books that do not incite criminal offences is harmful to the development of knowledge and culture.
UPL recalled that during the previous government it had protested against the closure of Adarsha Prakashan’s stall at the Ekushey Book Fair without formally banning its three books through the legal process.
“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 with free thought and academic freedom and to take steps to prevent such interference.
It also called on writers, readers, teachers, journalists, fellow publishers, political leaders with democratic aspirations, government officials and others to oppose what it described as an attack on academic publishing.
UPL further urged the state and society to take firm action against illegal activities that could create a culture of intimidation in the publishing industry.
