Dhaka, Feb. 2 -- Cultural Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has expressed concerns about manuscript verification before the publication of books for the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, saying recent media reports may have "created misunderstandings."

"A media report quotes a police officer suggesting pre-publication review by the Bangla Academy or police. This is unbelievable, ridiculous, and contradicts government policy," Farooki said while speaking at the National Poetry Festival's inauguration at Dhaka University on Saturday.

He said, "The government is committed to ensure freedom of expression. Even if it is by abusing me, it does not matter. And censoring the publication of books, this is ridiculous. I want to clear up this misunderstanding ...