The dying art of Qasida
This is a loose translation of a melodious Urdu poem that once used to reverberate through the empty lanes of old Dhaka deep into the Ramadan night.
1m ago
Chronicling Bangladesh’s Birth: The final push
After president Ayub Khan was forced to resign in the face of the 1969 mass uprising, General Yahya Khan assumed office on March 25. He immediately moved to consolidate his power by dissolving both national and provincial assemblies, effectively scrapping the constitution, and declaring martial law across Pakistan.
1m ago
Chronicling Bangladesh’s birth: Tumultuous 1960s
In the early 1960s, another covert group codenamed “Nucleus” emerged in the scene to further the cause of an independent Bangladesh alongside the Inner Group, East Bengal Liberation Front, and Apurba Sangsad.
1m ago
Inner Group: the first push for liberation
The 1940s witnessed the rise of some of the first movements for self-determination in East Pakistan. Politicians, journalists, and intellectuals like Moazzem Ahmed Chowdhury, Abdul Aziz Bagmar, Sirajul Alam Khan, and many others played a pivotal role in these early struggles for liberation.
1m ago
Series genocide in 1971: Three times a survivor
It is difficult for 68-year-old Shikha Biswas to decide if she is fortunate or not.
4m ago
Battles that quickened victory
Undeterred by setbacks, the freedom fighters held their nerve, and their resolute spirit fuelled the fight to liberate Bangladesh
4m ago
Slow pace, irregularities mark monument construction
Since its inception in 2001, the Liberation War affairs ministry has taken up two projects to identify and preserve killing fields in different parts of Bangladesh, but both initiatives have been marred by irregularities and slow pace.
4m ago
1971 War Killing Fields: Revered but not preserved
An unceremonious monument covered by bushes on three sides is barely visible from the adjacent road. At first sight during our visit in October, it was difficult to make out that the small structure is in fact the memorial of the notorious Pahartoli killing field.
4m ago
October 21, 2023
Martyred Hafizur finally recognised after 52 years
Martyred guerrilla of the Liberation War, Syed Hafizur Rahman, has finally been recognised as a freedom fighter after his family’s appeals were rejected nine times.
September 23, 2023
The vanguard of Dhaka’s independence
On June 9, 1971, six guerilla freedom fighters were on the way to the Intercontinental Hotel (InterContinental Dacca) in a hijacked Datsun 1000 car around 6:30pm. Shahidullah Khan Badol was driving, while Kamrul Huq Shopon and Masud Sadek Chullu, Habibul Alam, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, and Ziauddin Ali Ahmed were carrying three hand grenades each.
July 29, 2023
Forgotten amid dengue outbreak
Sakib, an 11-year-old homeless child in Dhaka’s Farmgate area, calls the sidewalks his home. Begging for food and money for his grandmother, he sleeps adjacent to Ananda cinema hall every night.
July 25, 2023
Ministry project sees little progress
Despite repeated concerns from experts, child drowning still remains a major concern in Bangladesh, with over 7.9 percent of children aged under five drowning annually in rural areas of the country.
May 20, 2023
Chuknagar: A shocking savagery
It was around 11:00am on May 20, 1971.
May 6, 2023
Childhood trapped in ‘leguna’
“This is Mohammadpur, get off,” a child yelled out to the passengers of a leguna, otherwise known as human hauliers, which had reached the area as early as 7:00am.
April 8, 2023
Haunting memories of Jinjira massacre
“Pakistani soldiers broke into our house through the backyard. Sensing their presence, three of my nephews gathered in one room. Another managed to flee. The soldiers entered our house firing indiscriminately killing the 3 helpless boys. They fell on the floor just like logs. …
March 4, 2023
Those turbulent first days of ‘71 March
Things changed when on February 15, Bhutto declared that PPP cannot participate in the assembly unless Awami League compromises on its six-point demand.
January 28, 2023
Nobody’s children
Just past midnight on Manik Mia Avenue, some children were seen taking the opportunity of the traffic light turning red. While some carried flowers, others had balloons of different colours. They were seen taking these to the passengers of private cars stopped at the signal, requesting them to make a purchase.
December 24, 2022
Jean Kay: Unforgettable story of a forgotten friend
December 3, 1971. It was around 11:30am in Paris. A flight of Pakistan International Airlines had just landed at Paris Orly Airport.
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