Bangla Academy fails to recognize worth of books!

Recently, some rare Bengali and English books were sold in bundles by Bangla Academy. When the matter spread on social media, a storm of discussion and criticism arose among art and literature lovers. The question has arisen: Does Bangla Academy really failed to understand the value of these books? Isn't the glorious history of the country being thrown into the trash in this way?'

According to relevant sources, Bangla Academy has sold about 20 Bengali and English books from the personal collection of "Shaheed Janani" (Mother of Martyrs) Jahanara Imam in bundle and at nominal prices. Jahanara Imam's family donated these books from her personal collection to Bangla Academy, and Bangla Academy sold these books without preserving them. Later, advertisements for those books were seen on the Facebook pages for selling old books where high prices for these books were demanded.

Among these books, the price for Shahidullah Kaiser's book 'Sanshptak' was fixed at least Tk100,000. On March 4, 1967, Shahidullah Kaiser himself gifted the book to Jahanara Imam and her husband Sharif Imam. The author wrote, 'As a sign of good wishes to Mr. Imam and Jahanara Imam, the author.' An advertisement for 'Sanshptak' appeared on the old book selling page 'Bichitra Bichitra Boi' on August 31 this year. The advertisement also said that if the price according to demand is not met, the seller will not sell this issue of Sanshptak and keep it in the 'vault'.

On behalf of the organization, Md. Rashed said that they bought these books from Bangla Academy in bundle. He also said that they received the most books from Jahanara Imam's personal collection. Among these books, he also received books signed by Ahmed Sharif and Abu Zafar Obaidullah and several other eminent people.

This page advertised the sale of Maxim Gorky's 'Mother' on September 18 and the sale of 'Pakhir Gan Boner Chhaya' on October 8. On Jahanara Imam's birthday in 1968, someone gifted her Maxim Gorky's novel 'Mother', published by Pragati Publishing House in Moscow. On the other hand, the cover of Shahid Akhand's book 'Pakhir Gan Baner Chhaya' was designed by artist Qayyum Chowdhury. The book, published in 1970, was signed by the author himself and gifted to Jahanara Imam. Jahanara Imam's two books 'Santaar Shekha' and 'Majar Khela Tas' have already been sold from this page. The price of one of these books is Tk600 and the price of the other is Tk340.

Apart from this, the old book selling Facebook page 'Pustak Zone' posted a sale of George Bernard Shaw's 'Plays Unpleasant', published by Penguin, on September 22. The inside of the book has the seal of the Bangla Academy, and next to it is written - 'Jahanara Imam's personal collection'. From here, the books Freedom vs. Organization, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, and George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, signed by Jahanara Imam's son, Shaheed Shafi Imam Rumi, were advertised for sale. When contacted, it was learned that they bought books from Nilkhet at a price per kilogram and found these books sealed by Bangla Academy while sorting them.

Another platform for selling old books, 'Durlav Boi', advertised for sale the book 'Path Bhedhe Dilo' from Jahanara Imam's collection.

In response to media queries in this regard, Bangla Academy Director General Mohammad Azam said that a committee was formed in 2014 to sort out duplicate copies and sub standard books from the submitted books to Bangla Academy library. This committee selected the books and determined some books that could be sold. For so long, these books were kept in a room on the first floor of the academy. Now they have been sold.

He also said that out of the large number of books that are deposited at the academy every year after the book fair, some of those are selected and kept in the library. The rest are listed for cancellation. Due to many years of accumulation, the first floor room of the Bangla Academy was completely filled. As a result, arrangements were made to sell these books.