Dhaka Lit Fest 2018 begins this Thursday

The 8th edition of Dhaka Literary Festival (DLF) will commence this Thursday on the Bangla Academy premises, bringing some of the biggest contemporary literary minds from across the globe.

While Pulitzer Prize-winning author Adam Johnson and Commonwealth Writers' Prize winning British-Pakistani journalist Mohammed Hanif will have their say on global issues, Indian actress-activist Nandita Das and Oscar-winning British actress Tilda Swinton will also have sessions with local literature aficionados.

Also among the big names in the three-day fest will be winner of the Ondaatje Prize Philip Hensher, winner of the Orwell and Ondaatje prizes James Meek, popular Indian author Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, and Nepalese actress Manisha Koirala who earned fame in Bollywood.

Bangladeshi luminaries like Prof Syed Manzoorul Islam, Imdadul Haq Milon, Kaiser Haq and Selina Hossain will also grace the fest.

“Our main aim is to disseminate Bangla literature across the globe,” Ahsan Akbar, one of three co-directors of DLF, told a press conference at Bangla Academy yesterday.

So far, some 330 guests from 50 countries attended the fest, said co-director Sadaf Saaz.

Beside regular sessions, the festival will put emphasis on women's issues, she said.

At the event, Nandita Das will talk about the recent #MeToo movement that jolted the Indian film industry and political scene, her new film “Manto”, which will be premiered at the festival, and about her acting career, said organisers.

This year, the festival will feature some 200 speakers, performers, and thinkers from 15 countries in over 90 sessions. The sessions are open to all, they said.

The fest will also host the Cambridge Short Story Prize and the Gemcon Literary Awards.

Festival co-director Kazi Anis Ahmed said the authorities of Cambridge Short Story Prize have chosen DLF as it is now a popular literary event that has generated international interest.

Besides, British literary magazine Granta will be part of the fest and its four-member team will talk on world literature, he said.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor is scheduled to inaugurate the festival.

DLF is supported by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and hosted by Bangla Academy.

Dhaka Tribune and Bangla Tribune are the title sponsors and BRAC Bank Ltd is key sponsor of the event. Energis is the Gold Sponsor and British Council, strategic partner.

Online registration is open at register.dhakalitfest.com. Updates of the fest will be available on dhakalitfest.com and facebook.com/dhakalitfest.