Security in place for Ekushey Book Fair
Police surveillance not to hamper freedom of speech, says DMP chief
Staff Reporter
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner, Md Asaduzzaman Miah, said yesterday that police surveillance against controversial publications would not hamper freedom of speech. He, however, repeated that the police would continue their surveillance against books which may instigate chaos centring around fundamental rights, religious sentiments, and communal conflicts. Replying to a question, he said: No one should mix up freedom of speech with security. We also believe in freedom of speech. You cannot hurt the religious sentiments or instigate communal conflict, or rob ones fundamental rights in the name of practising freedom of speech.
He also hoped that the authors, publishers and the Bangla Academy authorities would bring out books after reviewing these.
Books that hurt fundamental rights and religious sentiments of the people should not be published, the DMP chief said.
Replying to a question on how books will be kept under surveillance, he said: First, it is the duty of the publishers. They will scrutinise whether theres anything controversial. Secondly, it is the task of the Bangla Academy. Finally, it is our job and our intelligence will work on it. According to the penal code, if ones speech or activities attack others religious beliefs and leads to a communal clash, then he or she cannot be considered a freethinker. Our Information and Communication Technology Act does not permit such activities either.
About the progress of the Avijit murder case, he said: We will be able to submit the charge-sheet soon.
The book fair is set to start at the Bangla Academy tomorrow, and the DMP has put in place multi-layer security measures in and around the venue.
The DMP commissioner said the police has set up three control rooms and brought the area under CCTV surveillance.
