“Let Adarsha’s other publications be displayed and sold”—I am the one who wrote this. I also wrote in favor of denying the opportunity to sell Faham’s book. To those who wish to frame this as a stance against freedom of speech, I would say the issue is not quite so simple. Had it been that simple, it would not have mattered to me at all. Imagine a person entering your home, insulting your established family values, branding them as lies, and demanding you abandon them—you certainly would not encourage that person to continue their campaign under your roof. The issue with Faham’s book is exactly the same.
Mirza Fakhrul’s son-in-law, Faham Abdus Salam, does not believe in the three million martyrs, nor does he believe in Bengali nationalism. He actively encourages others to deny these historical truths. He also seems to have a severe, deep-seated irritation regarding our Liberation War. There is nothing original about Faham’s thoughts. He merely attempts to amplify the exact same propaganda that Pakistan used to broadcast against us, repackaging it with new vocabulary, profanities, a contrived accent, and bizarre theatrics.
To those who are currently writing in his defense, I pose a question: Is propagating an ideology that opposes the very birth of our nation considered freedom of speech? Can disseminating doctrines that directly collide with the fundamental framework of the state be justified as freedom of thought?
Faham wishes to carry out an “Ethnic Cleansing” of people who share our ideology. Does no one catch the foul stench of unrest in this? Brother, Pakistan still exists to embrace, nurture, and appreciate Faham’s thoughts. Let his book be published from there. A “rocket-scientist” journalist of his caliber will be highly valued over there.
Perhaps later, by the year 2050, when nationalism based on linguistic, religious, or ethnic identity weakens (or is no longer a catalyst for crisis), his book might be printed or circulated here. To that end, I strongly recommend allocating a spacious stall for him at the 2051 book fair.
But for now, excluding writers or writings of Faham’s ilk, the publisher Adarsha should be granted the opportunity to display and sell the rest of its publications.