The Daily Star Book of Bangladeshi Writing, published to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the paper, represents a groundbreaking attempt on the part of Bangladesh's premier daily to promote and showcase English-language writing by Bangladeshis at home and abroad.

As the editor of the paper points out in his Note, that "by encouraging younger Bangladeshis to write in English, by providing them with a forum where they can publish their pieces, by promoting reading in English, by helping to spread the corollary values of literacy, good citizenship, and cosmopolitanism, we help our nation to march forward."

In these pages established authors rub shoulders with previously unpublished, little-known writers, translations co-exist with original English-language narratives, and the result is an exciting mix of styles and themes. Among the newer authors, Razia Sultana Khan's 'Palki' is a wriggly tale of a bride attempting to fit herself within the confines of a palanquin, while Naeem Mohaimen's translation of Syed Mujtoba Ali's classic account of deshi roshgollas entrancing bideshi customs officers will delight those unable to access the Bengali originals. Sabrina Sadique's 'Four Quartets' displays an enviable linguistic vibrancy while Kazi Anis Ahmed delineates the vagaries of marriage and friendship in Dhaka.
Complementing the above are selections--prose and poetry—from the literature page of The Daily Star published over the last two-and-a-half years, which include readers' favourite pieces from the past: Fakrul Alam's critique of the 'new East India Company,' Rumana Siddique's poem 'Relatively Confused,' Syed Manzurul Islam's Bard-ish take on Kalyan Ray's own Shakespearean twister, Kaiser Huq's brilliant new analysis of Jibananda Das's Muse, or Manosh Chowdhury's haunting account of loss and new beginnings.

The Daily Star Book Of Bangladeshi Writing is an anthology that offers all this, and much more, to its readers.

A 15th Anniversary Special Publication
www.thedailystar.net
Price: US $10 +(P+P)

If anyone wishes to purchase this book please mail to webmaster@thedailystar.net