May 5, 2025 12:26 am
Full News

Sanitary Napkin Stall Shut Down at Book Fair Amid Islamist Mob Threat Concerns

Recently, Islamist extremists formed a mob and attacked a freethinking publisher at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair in Bangladesh. Instead of taking action against the attackers, Dr. Yunus’s government shut down the publisher’s stall. Now, fundamentalists have targeted women’s freedom.

A stall distributing free sanitary napkins and diapers to women attending the book fair faced threats from an Islamist mob. Instead of controlling the mob, the Bangla Academy, which organizes the fair, ordered the closure of the stall. This decision has sparked intense discussions on social media.

The fair’s organizing committee claims the shutdown was not about sanitary napkins or diapers but due to a lack of approval. They stated that the stall was violating fair regulations by selling non-book-related products.

By Sunday afternoon, the stall near the open stage at Suhrawardy Udyan was seen closed.

Many Facebook users alleged that the fair’s authorities shut it down due to fear of an “Islamist group mob.”

Evidence supporting this claim emerged in a letter signed by Bangla Academy Director General Mohammad Azam, which went viral on social media. The letter states that “several Islamist groups” objected to the sale of sanitary napkins at the stall.

Fair organizers claim the letter was sent by the event management company to the sponsoring company, but they did not comment on the signature of the Bangla Academy chief.

The letter also mentioned replacing the stall’s products with other items, such as children’s educational materials, citing concerns about potential mob violence and the sponsor company’s business interests.

In the letter, Bangla Academy Director General Mohammad Azam stated:
“I am aware of the situation. Immediate action needs to be taken.”

When asked about this issue, Fair Organizing Committee Member-Secretary Sarker Amin told Bangladeshi media:
“According to the regulations, only books and food can be sold at the book fair.”

Bangla Academy’s Mohammad Azam added:
“This stall did not receive approval as per fair regulations, which is why it was shut down. It has nothing to do with sanitary napkins or diapers.”

However, when questioned about how the stall was set up in the first place, Azam explained:
*”We assign certain responsibilities to an event management company for infrastructure, including toilets. They are allowed to secure small sponsors for these services with fair committee approval.

For example, ‘Dettol’ is providing toilet cleaning services with approval. However, this stall was set up without informing the committee.”*

Rakib Hasan, Director and CEO of Dreamer Donkey Pvt. Ltd., the event management company for the fair, admitted that the stall was set up without approval.

“We gather sponsors from companies that support the fair’s infrastructure. The fair committee allocates space for us. Just like ‘Dettol’ is handling toilet cleaning, we placed this stall for sanitary napkins and diapers near the toilets,” Rakib said.

Regarding allegations that the stall violated fair regulations by selling sanitary napkins and diapers, Rakib clarified:
“They were distributing free sanitary napkins to women attending the fair. However, if someone wanted to buy, they were also selling.”

The closure of this stall, which aimed to provide an essential service for women, has sparked widespread criticism on Facebook. Many users argue that under Dr. Yunus’s authoritarian regime, Islamist fundamentalism is gaining strength across Bangladesh.

Related News
Sandra Bullock Almost Played Maggie in Million Dollar Baby’s Rejected Vision
Imran Khan in ‘Death Cell’ in Pakistan Prison: PTI Claims
Italy Faces Criticism For Releasing Libya’s ‘Warlord’ Leader
Landslides and Floods Devastate Java Island, Indonesia: 10 Dead, 2 Missing
Real Madrid Lose Points Again, Good for Barca-Atletico
UN Pushes for Urgent Revival of Iran Nuclear Deal as Tensions Escalate
Related Posts
Chinese President Xi Jinping to Visit Russia for Nazi Defeat Commemoration
India Halts River Water Flow to Pakistan
International Observatory Condemns Judicial Harassment and Political Discrimination Against Lawyers in Bangladesh
World’s Oldest Doctor Dies at the Age of 129
Bangladesh Sees Unprecedented Media Crackdown Under Dr. Yunus-Led Interim Government: 640 Journalists Targeted in Eight Months, Says RRG Report
Two Bangladeshi-American Citizens Remain Unidentified; National Security Adviser Dr. Khalilur Rahman Confirmed Safe
More News

Canada Halts Private Refugee Sponsorship Applications Until 2026

Canada has announced a temporary pause on private refugee sponsorship applications from groups of five individuals or more and community organizations to address a growing backlog. The decision, effective immediately, will remain in place until December 31, 2025, according to a notice published on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. The pause aims […]

Japan Reaffirms Commitment to Strengthening Ties with Bangladesh

Japan has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s reform initiatives and economic development, with outgoing Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Iwama Kiminori, expressing Tokyo’s dedication on Wednesday.The ambassador made these remarks during a farewell meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka.Ambassador Kiminori highlighted Japan’s focus on strengthening bilateral […]

Zelensky ready to negotiate only if security guarantees

Ukraine President Volodimir Zensky agrees to discuss the war with Russia.However, his condition is that the United States and Europe will not abandon Ukraine, there must be a compromise.Jensky said this in an interview on Sunday to ITV in the UK. Zensky said Ukraine would be guaranteed US President Donald Trump’s plan to stop the […]

Donald Trump Signals Tariffs Will Stay Amid UK-US Trade Negotiations

US President Donald Trump has dashed hopes for a swift resolution to trade tensions with the UK, signaling his intention to maintain “substantial” tariffs on British goods. The sweeping 10% tariffs on all imports, alongside 25% levies on aluminum, steel, and cars, have posed significant challenges for British exporters. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has […]

Seaplane Crashes Near Rottnest Island, Australia: Three Missing and Four Injured

A tragic seaplane crash near Rottnest Island, a popular tourist destination off the coast of Perth, has left three people missing and four others hospitalized with serious injuries. The incident, which occurred near Thompson Bay, prompted a large-scale rescue operation involving Water Police and several civilian vessels. Witness Accounts Tourist Greg Quin, who witnessed the […]

Cast Announced for New ‘Anaconda’

Columbia Pictures has revealed the cast for its upcoming comedic reimagining of the 1997 horror classic Anaconda. The film, directed by Tom Gormican, will star Paul Rudd and Jack Black in lead roles, with Thandiwe Newton, Steve Zahn, Ione Skye, and Selton Mello joining the ensemble. The new version of Anaconda departs from the original’s […]

South Korea Uncovers Russia-North Korea Missile Exchange Deal for Troops

South Korea has revealed that Russia provided air defense missiles to North Korea in exchange for sending troops to support Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine, according to a senior government official. Shin Wonsik, the national security adviser to President Yoon Suk Yeol, disclosed on Friday during a televised interview that Russian-supplied missiles and other equipment […]

Supreme Court Leans Towards Upholding TikTok Ban Amid National Security Concerns

The Supreme Court appeared inclined on January 10 to uphold a law that would force the sale or ban of the popular short-video app TikTok in the United States by January 19, citing national security concerns about China. During over two hours of arguments, the nine justices questioned lawyers representing TikTok, its Chinese parent company […]

Wicked: Could It Win Best Picture at the Oscars?

This year, Wicked, a movie about misunderstood witches, could be a strong contender for Best Picture at the Oscars. The movie, directed by Jon M. Chu, is based on the popular Broadway musical. But some people think it may have trouble winning because it’s seen as too commercial and childish, especially since it has toys […]

340 Pro-Assad Group Members Killed in Syria Clashes

Over 340 civilian members of the Alawite community, loyal to Syria’s ousted former President Bashar al-Assad, were killed in clashes with security forces, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December amid protests led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Syria’s new authorities […]