DHAKA, Nov 02, 2024 (BSS) – Writers, academics and journalists at a book review event today underscored the need for ensuring a congenial atmosphere in the country so that different opinions can be practiced and writers can enjoy complete freedom.

They said there was no freedom of speech, democracy and human rights in the country during the last 16 years of fascist regime while writers and publishers were killed only for their write- ups and publishing books.

Bangiya Sahitya Sabha organized the event on the book “Shadhinota Ganotantro Manobadhikar/ Awami Leaguer Shasonamole Bangladesh 2009-2023” written by writer and journalist Ehasan Mahamud at Bangla Academy in the city this afternoon.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Daily Samakal Advisory Editor Abu Sayeed Khan, Prothom Alo Joint Editor Sohrab Hassan, Netra News Chief Editor Tasneem Khalil, Dhaka University (DU) Professor Dr Gitiara Nasreen and writer, researcher and teacher Parsa Sanjana Sajid took part in the event.

Writer of the book Ehasan Mahamud also spoke at the event while BSS Managing Director and Chief Editor eminent journalist, poet and litterateur Mahbub Morshed was present, among others.   

The speakers said in the book, Ehasan has successfully presented the ruling party’s oppression on the then opposition party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the last 16 years and BNP’s struggle to survive in the political field taking grassroots people with them.

This book is a compilation of his columns published in the Dainik Samakal between 2022 and 2023.

Speaking on the occasion, Abu Sayeed Khan said the people of the country in the last 16 year cannot practice different opinions during the fascist regime.

But the July-August uprising successfully ousted the fascist ruler with the participation of people from all strata and created many aspirations among them, he added.

“In the post fascism era, we want such a democratic environment in the country where we will be able to practice different opinions,” Abu Sayeed said, urging the government to work upholding the aspirations of the people.

Noting that some reforms are needed for holding a free, fair and credible election, he said the government should reach a consensus with political parties over the reforms so that the cohorts of fascist regime cannot create any instability in the country.

Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said during the fascist regime there was freedom for the people of a certain political party.

“If anyone went against their narratives, he or she used to be termed as anti-liberation force. We could not uphold and practice the freedom of expression during that period,” she said.

Noting that there was no democracy in the country, the adviser said, which is now called fascism, it was just a family dynasty in the form of monarchy.  

 Human rights can never be upheld in the fascist system, with a mindset that “only I will remain in the power and will not allow anyone to come to power,” she said, adding during the fascist regime, there was nothing except human rights commission and its office.

Freedom, democracy and human rights were redounded, Rizwana said, adding, these issues were publicized in a distorted way from different state-owned institutions during that period.

Highlighting the government’s relentless efforts to bring such a change in the country so that the fascism cannot raise its head again in the country, she said the government is working in line with the aspirations of the country’s people.

About the work of different reform commissions, the adviser sought cooperation from all, including political parties, journalists and civil society members, to mobilize support for implementing the recommendations that will be suggested by the commissions.

Prothom Alo Joint Editor Sohrab Hassan said there is no instance across the world that anyone was killed only for publishing a book.

“But in Bangladesh a publisher was killed due to publishing a book . . . therefore, we want such a society where people will not attack and kill each other in the name of religions, power and ideology,” he added.

DU Professor Gitiara Nasreen said Ehasan wrote columns in such a period when the then government was compelling the country’s media not to publish any opinion that goes against their interest.

But Ehasan proved that rulers’ efforts do not work properly all times, she said, adding, rulers always think that people do not understand their strategies, but the reality is the people can understand everything and they take opportunity of even a tiny loophole of the government.