Dhaka: The Bangla Academy has decided to take punitive action against the 20 publications on various charges.

The academy executive council took the decision against the 20 publications at their some executive meetings several months back.

The decision came against the publications for violating the code of conduct of Amar Ekushey Book fair, selling pirated books and selling the book on ‘hurt religious sentiments’. 

However, the Bangla Academy did not formally inform any publication about the action.

 Of the publications, the academy executive council decided not to allocate stalls to Shrabon Prokashani in the book fair for the next two years while Ba-Dwip, Rongin Ful, Oikya and Nil Pori publications for the next five years, said member secretary of the book fair committee Jalal Ahmed.

The academy shut down Ba-Dwip Prakashan’s stall during the last book fair for selling a book on hurting religious sentiments’.

Shrabon Prokashani will be banned for protesting the action taken by the Bangla Academy against the Ba-Dwip publication while the four others—Ba-Dwip, Rongin Ful, Oikya and Nil Pori publications—for selling pirated books.

Besides, the academy decided to take action against the rest 15 publications slightly. They will not get allotment for setting up stalls in the 2017-book fair like the last year.

Five publications that got two unit stalls last year will be allotted one unit stall this year while three unit stall ‘Suborna’ will get two unit stalls.

Seven publications that got one unit stall will not be allowed to participate in the fair this year.

Jalal said they will inform the publishers officially soon through the letter about their action.

Shrabon Prokashani Robin Ahsan owner told UNB that they will protest against the decision and arrange a press conference soon to brief the details.

Meanwhile, writers, cultural activists, and eminent personalities started protesting against the decision to bar the publishing house of Srabon Prokashoni.