Bengali writers have endured police repression since British rule

Zakir Talukder is one of Bangladesh's leading litterateurs. His notable novels include Pitrigan, Musalmanmongol, Kobi O Kamini, Kursinama, 1992, and many others. He has written around 25 novels and over a hundred short stories. In addition to his fiction, he has authored several essays, including the much-discussed book ‘What Was Karl Marx Like?’. In 2014, he was awarded the Bangla Academy Literary Award, but on January 28, 2024, he announced that he would refuse the award. Known for his outspoken Views on political and social issues in the country, Talukdar is a progressive and science-oriented writer who is also a practicing physician. At the beginning of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025, some controversy arose. He talked to Views Bangladesh about the Book Fair and the current situation in the country. The interview was conducted by the writer Kamrul Ahsan.

Views Bangladesh: First, tell us about this year's Bangla Academy Literary Award. After it was announced, the award was suspended, and later, the awards for three categories—fiction, children's literature, and Liberation War—were canceled. No one was awarded in these categories this time. What do you think about this situation?

Zakir Talukder: The shamelessness of the Bangla Academy regarding literary awards is not a new issue. This year, however, it reached its peak. The academy’s undemocratic approach, bureaucratic attitude, and arbitrary management system that ignores its own constitution were things I have been protesting for the past 10 years, and ultimately, I returned the award. In reality, none of these efforts have made any difference. It is clear that they don’t care for the words or civilized behavior of anyone. They suspended the award in response to the mob, but I wonder if this mob was something they themselves organized. I suspect they might have orchestrated it.

An advisor or minister has no authority to cancel an award once it has been announced. The award was suspended because, in the end, we did not see the kind of dignity we expect from our writers. After the suspension, all the announced winners should have declared that they would not accept the award. But our writers couldn’t show that kind of integrity. That’s why the Bangla Academy is able to get away with such shameless actions. Perhaps in the future, they will become even more shameless. I have no words to express my disgust. I am personally ashamed of this situation.

Views Bangladesh: The names of those who were on the award selection committee were not made public, and later, those who suspended the award—who are they? Shouldn't writers demand accountability from the Bangla Academy for this?

Zakir Talukder: Absolutely, accountability should be demanded. It should be claimed and enforced. The reason the Bangla Academy has turned into such a corrupt institution today is because no one holds them accountable.

Views Bangladesh: After the suspension of the award, fiction writer Selim Morshed declined the award. Later, his name was removed from the list. Do you think the Bangla Academy made the right decision?

Zakir Talukder: Suspending the award itself was inappropriate. The rest of the actions—relisting or re-election—seem illegal to me as well.

Views Bangladesh: At the beginning of this year’s book fair, the police have commented that to avoid creating an unstable situation, the Bangla Academy should vet manuscripts before publication to prevent any controversial content. How do you view this statement from the police?

Zakir Talukder: Bengali writers have been oppressed by the police since the British era. There’s a state police, and then there’s a literary police. Some so-called backward moralists have continuously tried to obstruct literature’s free path by saying “this writing is allowed, that writing isn’t.” The police are uneducated in literature. The state police certainly don't know how to judge literature. These so-called literary police have banned certain books and writings just by listening to some voices. We’ve seen similar actions from the British era to recent governments. Books have been banned based on the opinions of different people. It’s not just the police—when it comes to literature, neither the government, nor the state, nor any guardians have any role to play. Literature should only be judged by its content. If someone dislikes a piece of writing, they don’t have to read it. If they object to it, they can counter it with their own writing.

And when it comes to the issue of religion, it’s often mentioned here. But religion itself is divided into 73 sects. What one sect might see as provocative, the other 72 might not. So this is all relative. Therefore, if they disagree with the content of a book, they can always write another book as a counter-response or multiple books to address it.

Instead of this, the attempt to restrict the freedom of writers, the freedom of literature, and the freedom of free thought by seeking police intervention is an ongoing effort that has been in place since the British era, and now it is only increasing. After the July-August movement, we had hoped for a flow of free thought in the country. But instead of that, the same unhealthy rules that existed before are being applied even more strictly now. Along with that, mobs have been incited. I want to make it very clear: the police have no right to make such statements.

Views Bangladesh: Can writers demand accountability from the police or raise complaints with the government about why the police are making such statements? Doesn’t this comment from the police seem provocative?

Zakir Talukder: Writers can at least issue a statement of protest. They can demand the withdrawal of the points the police have raised. And as I said, if someone objects to a book, they can write a counter-book. That’s the way literature progresses. Police intervention is absolutely unacceptable, and the police have no right to interfere in literature.

Views Bangladesh: Could you comment on the moral policing by the state police in our country, where individual freedoms are being interfered with in various ways?

Zakir Talukder: I suspect that the government is complicit in the moral policing. There are plenty of reasons for this suspicion. After so many shrines were destroyed, the government took no action. A person boldly declared the cancellation of the Uras via a Facebook live stream—where did they get that courage from? The government sat quietly without arresting that person. Over 80 shrines were destroyed, Uras were banned, girls’ football matches were stopped, and other sports were also being shut down—there seems to be some covert support behind all of this. They talk about inclusion, but they’re pulling in ‘ Jagrata Janata (awakened citizens)’ or such groups, supporting extremism in some form. Attacks on indigenous people are another issue. No action is being taken against the perpetrators. There are sufficient reasons for concern now, and as a writer, I am deeply worried about it.

Views Bangladesh: There are plenty of reasons to be concerned, but as a writer, do you see any hope? Since we are in a period of what could be called state reform, with new discussions taking place, we’ve seen in the past that after such uprisings, new waves of thought emerge in a country. Do you think something like that could happen here?

Zakir Talukder: People are talking about new ideas, but the adverse circumstances are so overwhelming that these new ideas are not reaching everyone. Compared to the opposing events, new ideas sound very faint. The role that our media should be playing in favor of progress, free thought, and building a new society—unfortunately, they’re not fulfilling that role, or perhaps they don’t want to. The media that holds new ideas could have been encouraging, but we’re not seeing any such initiative. The media may be reacting to things after they happen, but there’s no proactive role being played by them. However, how bad can things get in a country? Eventually, this country will bounce back.

Views Bangladesh: Writers always have to stand against adversity. So, what is your overall opinion about the arts and literature in Bangladesh? How strong do you think the backbone of our country's writers is?

Zakir Talukder: We have always seen that some writers in Bangladesh align themselves with the government, following its lead. However, I have never seen such a widespread surrender of all writers to the government what we saw during the tenure of the previous Awami League government. The remnant of that period are probably still lingering. The independent thought and essence of the writers have been damaged. The writers who were outspoken then, especially some left-leaning writers, were vocal before and continue to be vocal now. The number might be smaller, but I hope it will gradually increase.

Views Bangladesh: Even during the Awami League government, you’ve been highly critical, making bold statements that were dangerous, and you continue to do so. Despite a certain group trying to discredit you in various ways, do you face any threats because of this? Where do you find the courage for this?

Zakir Talukder: There’s always a threat. Conscience is the courage of a writer. In my case, perhaps it comes from how I was raised—through correct student politics, the right study circles, and through the people I’ve been in contact with. The support I receive from my family is also a source of strength for me. For example, I once asked my son, "If I were imprisoned, would you feel ashamed?" He casually replied, "Rather, we would be proud."