A 2020 document by the American Library Association highlighted the quite loads of causes books are banned in the US, with political standpoint being the least frequent cause, accounting for many effective 6.5% of bans.
Whereas no comparable statistics are on hand in Bangladesh, or no longer it is smartly-known that practically all banned books in the country stem from political or non secular contexts.
Books are among the many most honest types of expression, serving as a window into various thoughts and ideas. Political books, in explain, are in overall seen as manuscripts of forbidden historical past in this country.
Over time, many such books derive been banned by ruling governments in Bangladesh, especially those that wretchedness the residing quo or provoke crucial pondering.
For the interval of the July revolution, several banned books made a highly effective comeback on social media, sparking a renewed passion and fervour among the many early life.
Amar Fashi Chai – Motiur Rahman Rentu
The prolonged-banned e book Amar Fashi Chai by Motiur Rahman Rentu resurfaced for the interval of the final leg of the student motion when the 9-point requires of the student squeezed into one point – “Step down Hasina”.
Motiur Rahman Rentu changed into a well informed freedom fighter; he served in the liberation war while being a ninth grader. The creator changed into a stop ally to the Sheikh family and served as an casual consultant to Sheikh Hasina from 1981 (after she returned to the country) to 1997. The creator’s significant other additionally served as a secretary at Hasina’s office for 9 years.
On the replace hand, Rentu, collectively along with his significant other, changed into declared persona non grata by the then PM Hasina in 1997.
Amar Fashi Chai presents a particular look into the inside workings of Hasina’s family, recounting a series of incidents that the creator personally witnessed. Thru the author’s first-hand accounts, the e book presents a deeper belief of Hasina’s persona, revealing the complexities and vulnerabilities that formed her.
One explain page that went viral for the interval of the protests changed into the set the creator talks about Hasina’s unsettling obsession with money and loss of life. The author paints a disturbing listing of how she allegedly manipulates these two scheme—wealth and tragedy—to fabricate her ambitions.
The e book, written in very indecent language, concludes with a surprising twist. The creator, reflecting on a series of faulty selections made in enhance of Hasina, come what may per chance expresses a necessity for his possess loss of life penalty.
Amar Fashi Chai changed into first printed on 26 March, 1999, but quickly after its originate, the e book changed into banned, doubtless due to its controversial enlighten and the mettlesome claims it made. The e book is on hand in PDF codecs on-line.
Ja Dekhechi, Ja Bujhechi, Ja Korechi — Lieutenant Colonel Shariful Haque Dalim
Since July, ‘Major Dalim’ reels derive reigned supreme on Bangladeshi social media, the set folks lauded him for avenging the dishonour he and his significant other confronted in the fingers of Awami League cadres.
Most folks know retired Lt Col Shariful Haque Dalim as considered one of many assassins of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. What’s no longer broadly known is that he changed into considered one of many significant few Bangali military officers who defected from the Pakistan Navy, from Pakistan, to be a part of the Liberation Battle. Later, he changed into the centre of the kidnapping controversy.
His e book, Ja Dekhechi, Ja Bujhechi, Ja Korechi, changed into printed in 2001, and later banned for the interval of the Awami League regime. In this e book, he openly shares his lifestyles account — describing what motivated him to be a part of the Liberation Battle, his fling from Pakistan, his experiences for the interval of the war, the dramatic methodology he married his significant other Nimmi, his disillusionment with the country’s decline between 1972 and 1975, his causes for plotting to assassinate President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and how he changed into forced to flit the country after the three November coup led by Traditional Khaled Mosharraf and Colonel Shafaat Jamil.
The charming facet of the e book lies in the intention in which it items, by gentle and partaking writing, the perspective of a particular individual that felt deeply betrayed by any person he once admired. Despite come what may per chance being fascinated with the killing of Sheikh Mujib, Dalim had once revered the leader. The e book illustrates how his admiration became intense hatred, painting a sparkling portrayal of that transformation.
The e book presents insights on a couple of of the significant characters from the early days of Bangladesh. However the e book wants to be inquisitive about a pinch of salt — possibilities are you’ll per chance no longer be too obvious relating to the authenticity of a particular individual that dedicated treason against a country he himself bled to fabricate.
The e book is on hand on the Rokomari web page.
Bangalir Mediocrityr Shondhane – Faham Abdus Salam
“Bangalir Mediocrityr Shondhane” (2022) by Faham Abdus Salam is considered one of many three controversial books printed by Adarsha, which resulted in the banning of the esteemed publisher’s stall in 2023 Ekushey E book Sparkling, stirring fashioned uproar and debate.
The e book obtained particular attention as Bangla Academy had specifically flagged it as ‘coarse’. The e book is largely a compilation of philosophical arguments, in overall expressed by politically charged rhetoric.
Faham Abdus Salam is famous for his consuming wit and humour in critiquing the country’s socioeconomic and political disorders, in overall sparking controversy on social media. His essays detect the nature, language, revolution, politics, and persona of the Bangali folks.
Despite the incontrovertible truth that it comprises 14 essays, the core tips may per chance well be distilled into lawful two or three. The first belief or argument centres across the Bangali revolution—extra specifically, how the Bangali belief of revolution, or what they rob into consideration revolution, is problematic or mediocre, in step with the author.
The second belief specializes in the Bangla language, the set Faham items a hypothesis questioning whether the vogue of the language performs a characteristic in Bangali mediocrity.
The e book presents quite loads of notion-terrifying insights. Even when you disagree with Faham’s views or push aside the entire e book, it aloof has the functionality to spark reflection. Whereas possibilities are you’ll per chance also no longer expose any hidden gems, it would aloof originate you suspect that.
The e book is currently on hand on Rokomari, if it’s essential to want to read it.
Beshi Dame Kina Kom Dame Becha Amader Swadhinota – Abul Mansur Ahmed
Abul Mansur Ahmed changed into a Bangladeshi baby-kisser and journalist. He is largely is called considered one of many most famed political satirists in Bangla literature.
Beshi Dame Kina Kom Dame Becha Amader Swadhinota comprises 42 essays, among which, 39 had been printed in 1972-73 in the country’s most primarily circulated newspaper at the time, Day-to-day Ittefaq.
The title of the e book Beshi Dame Kina Kom Dame Becha Amader Swadhinota (Freedom Bought at a Excessive Trace, Bought at a Low Trace) is self-explanatory in phrases of the e book’s context.
Inner a year or so after Bangladesh obtained independence, the author sensed that the country’s laborious-obtained freedom, for which millions had sacrificed their lives, changed into being “offered” to India and handed over to capitalism.
The author struggled to just bag the legitimate-dominance insurance policies and anti-independence actions of the significant Awami League authorities. Despite being a worthy leader for the interval of the celebration, he resisted these actions to safeguard the nation’s independence. His tone in the e book is articulate and unapologetic, pretty than neutral.
The central theme of the e book changed into to snort how, below the Awami League authorities, Bangladesh’s interests had been being offered out and the country changed into being passe as a pawn to Indian interests.
Abul Mansur Ahmed considered the society, politics, and folks of East Bengal (now Bangladesh) with a outlandish overview. Even in up-to-the-minute society and politics, Abul Mansur Ahmed’s writings seem highly related and significant. Right here is why the e book retains resurfacing recurrently.
The e book changed into never if truth be told officially banned, but it changed into no longer extra printed after the distinctive newsletter and remained off the shelves. It’s listed in Rokomari but the have choice says “quiz for print”.
Shadique Mahbub Islam additionally contributed to this article.
More books making a return
Revolution Militia personnel And The Battle of Liberation in Bangladesh
by Dr. Cornel Oli Ahmod Birabikrama
Ami Major Dalim Bolchi
by Lieutenant Colonel Shariful Haque Dalim
Swadhinota Uttor Bangladesh
by Pinaki Bhattacharya
Unnoyon Bibhram
by Zia Hasan
Oprodhirodhya Unnoyoner Obhabonio Kothamala
by Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb
