Following the cancellation of Afsana Begum’s appointment as director of Bangladesh’s National Book Centre, a heated debate has emerged within the country’s cultural and literary circles. The article alleges that a group of pro-Awami League and left-leaning cultural figures have strongly criticized the Ministry of Culture and adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, while Afsana herself publicly defended her position and condemned the decision to revoke her appointment.

The report claims that the National Book Centre’s book selection committee for the 2024–25 fiscal year displayed conflicts of interest, with some committee members including their own works in the purchase list. It further alleges that the list favored writers and publishers aligned with a particular ideological group, while excluding authors critical of past Awami League governments or supportive of the July uprising. The article also links Afsana’s appointment to recommendations from individuals associated with the newspaper Prothom Alo.

The author argues that the controversy exposes entrenched favoritism and ideological bias in state-funded cultural institutions, raising concerns about transparency and inclusivity in Bangladesh’s literary policy.