Rokomari, Baatighar pull anti-Yunus book amid backlash over Hasina foreword

Bangladesh's two leading booksellers, Rokomari and Baatighar, have withdrawn the book The Yunus Files: Unmasking a Fake Saint from sale following a wave of criticism over its publication, including objections that it carries an introductory note by convicted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Baatighar owner Dipankar Das said the decision was taken after customers and well-wishers alerted the company to the contents of the book.

"Some of our friends and well-wishers informed us that the book contains an introduction written by Sheikh Hasina. After receiving that feedback, we decided to discontinue the book," Das told Daily Waadaa on Monday.

He said bookstores generally receive books directly from publishers and do not always examine their contents before putting them on sale.

Rokomari also confirmed removing the title from its platform.

"We stopped selling the book after learning that it contains a writing by a person who has been sentenced to death by a court. In line with our policy, we decided to discontinue it," Mahmudul Hasan Sadi, Divisional Head of Brand Marketing and Sales at Rokomari, told Daily Waadaa.

Both booksellers faced widespread criticism on social media after listing the book for sale.

The controversy intensified after the July Revolutionary Alliance (JRA), an organization formed in the aftermath of the July Uprising, demanded action against the publisher.

"We are closely monitoring what action is taken regarding Nalonda for violating the instructions of the Supreme Court," the organization said in a Facebook post.

National Citizen Party leader Sarwar Tusher also called for legal action, arguing that the publication and promotion of the book constituted a punishable offence. 

He urged the authorities to order its immediate withdrawal from the market and warned that the publisher's registration should be cancelled if it failed to comply.

Published by Nalonda, The Yunus Files: Unmasking a Fake Saint is an English-language book critical of Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former chief adviser Muhammad Yunus. It was co-authored by Aminul Haque Polash and Probir Bidhan.

According to sources, Polash, a former official of the National Security Intelligence (NSI), lost his job last September after travelling to London from Kolkata, where he had been posted, despite being ordered to return to Dhaka. 

During his student years at BUET, he served as convener of the university unit of the now-banned Bangladesh Chhatra League. Rights watchdog Socchar has documented allegations that he was involved in abuses against students during that period.

The book's co-author, Probir Bidhan, whose full name is Probir Kumar Sarkar, states on his LinkedIn profile that he previously worked for Dhaka Tribune, The Daily Star and bdnews24.com. 

His social media posts frequently express support for the banned Awami League, and he previously authored The Dark Prince, a book on BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.

Nalonda owner Redwanur Rahman Jewel, who currently resides in the United States, has publicly expressed support for the Awami League and criticised the July Uprising. 

In one Facebook post, he described Sheikh Hasina as "an artist" rather than a "fascist."