Bangla Academy Writers’ Club locked, faces ‘takeover attempt’ before opening

The newly constructed Writers’ Club at Bangla Academy has been locked and sealed just days before its official inauguration amid allegations that a life member attempted to seize control of the space.

Academy staff told bdnews24.com that Akbar Ali Siraji, a life member, attempted several times to create a disturbance at the academy following the July Uprising.

Siraji allegedly brought several people to the room, installed a lock, and handed a key to the academy’s security personnel.

Siraji, however, denied installing the lock himself, saying the security guards carried it out.

Academy employees said his associates placed their lock on the main entrance of the under-construction Bangla Academy Writers’ Centre and the Language Training Subdivision on the second floor of the Dr Muhammad Enamul Haque building on Thursday afternoon.

Following the incident, the Bangla Academy issued a formal letter to Siraji, demanding a written explanation within five days. Siraji, however, claimed he had not received any such correspondence.

A copy of the letter, reviewed by bdnews24.com, includes sharp criticism of Siraji’s conduct.

“As a respected life member, you bear a responsibility to uphold the dignity of Bangla Academy—a national institution deeply tied to the intellectual soul of Bangladesh. Your recent activities have, unfortunately, brought repeated embarrassment to the Academy," it read.

“Since July 2024, after the mass uprising, you have visited the academy with a group on several occasions, displaying inappropriate behaviour towards female staff and officers of different levels. You have intervened uninvited in academy events, attempting to create disorder. Your actions are disrupting the normal functioning of the academy.”

“These activities are against the interests and ideals of Bangla Academy and will be presented to the Executive Council for further consideration,” it added.

Several academy staff told bdnews24.com that following the July Uprising, Siraji repeatedly attempted to create “mobs” at the academy and tried to secure unlawful privileges through intimidation.