Publisher, printer taken on remand

Police have arrested three people including the publisher of a book allegedly containing elements that could hurt religious sentiments.

The arrestees are Shamsujjoha Manik, publisher and editor of the book titled Islam Bitarka (debate on Islam), its distributor and Manik's brother Shamsul Alam and printer Fakir Taslimuddin Kajol.

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A Dhaka court yesterday placed the trio on remand. Manik was remanded for five days, Shamsul for a day and Taslimuddin, owner of Shobdokoli Printers, for two days.

Earlier on Monday, the authorities of Amar Ekushey Granthamela shut down a stall of Ba-Dwip Prakashan for bringing out the book. The arrest was made that night.

Metropolitan Magistrate Amirul Haider Chowdhury passed the remand orders after Inspector (investigation) of Shahbagh Police Station Zafarullah Biswas produced the trio in court.

Talking to journalists at the police station, Deputy Commissioner (Ramna division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Abdul Baten said, “An investigation is going on. We will arrest anybody found to be involved (with the publication).”

Police will make more arrests and take more actions if they find other books of similar kind, he added.

A case was filed with the police station under the Information Technology and Communication Act against the three on charges of hurting religious sentiments.

Asked why the case was filed under the act, Abdul explained that the whole book was available on the internet.

“It will create confusion among people across the country. There will be reactions.” 

Edited by Manik, the book was first published in 2010 and brought out in the Ekushey book fair in 2012.

Police came to know about the book and its publisher from the social media and intelligence, Abdul said. 

Six copies of the book were seized from a stall (no 191) of Ba-Dwip Prakashan in this year's book fair and 75 more copies during different raids.

“We have read parts of the book. We thought the content could seriously hurt religious sentiments,” Abdul said, adding that no sensible person should write anything indecent about any prophet or religious leader.