Dipan Nandy

Revisiting memories of struggle and sacrifice

You are looking at a large portrait of Bangabandhu, depicting his powerful speech on March 7, 1971. An audiovisual of the precise moment in history plays in the background, making you feel as if you are experiencing the historical moment in-person.

3d ago

One little town showed how to fight back

An eerie silence settled over the streets of Kushtia in the early hours of March 30, 1971, as a curfew, imposed by the occupying Pakistan army, was in place.

4d ago

Subsidised Beef, Eggs: Relief to some of middle class

MA Khair Chowdhury passed the Segunbagicha kitchen market disappointed.

5d ago

A journey through Bangladesh’s struggle for independence

The word “Swadhinata” evokes a powerful image of Bangladesh’s journey to independence, and the Swadhinata Museum, located at Dhaka’s Suhrawardy Udyan is a testament to that journey, embodying the spirit of freedom.

5d ago

Livestock dept's sales bring relief, but prices still too high for most

MA Khair Chowdhury passed the Segunbagicha kitchen market, disappointed. "It's quite impossible to buy daily essentials from the market due to the high prices."

5d ago

Kushtia’s tale of unimaginable brutality

A dilapidated tin-shed stands precariously at Bittipara area in Kushtia.

6d ago

19 Kitchen market buildings risky yet in use

If you take a look at the Rayer Bazar Dhaka City Corporation Market, you will see that the age-old building is on the verge of falling apart.

2w ago

'I survived only because I was able to free my hand’

"Around 4:30 or 4:45pm, the ceiling and the walls began to collapse following a big blast. I cannot remember much of what happened afterwards."

3w ago

‘I said what I needed to say’

After delivering his watershed speech on March 7, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned home with thousands in his wake.

3w ago

Poetries most-published, novels most sold

Every year, thousands of poetry books are published at Amar Ekushey Boi Mela, and this year was no exception. According to Bangla Academy data, more poetry books were published this year than other genres of literature, including stories and novels.

Aglow with Ekushey spirit

As scores of people placed floral wreaths on the pedestal of Central Shaheed Minar yesterday, they also thronged the nearby Ekushey book fair, which commemorates the sacrifice made in 1952 through literature.

Highlighting stories of the overlooked

Becoming a writer was always a distant dream of theirs. But due to harsh realities of life and meagre income, they had to sustain themselves first. In the process, they had to bury that dream a long time ago.

Children’s books lack variety

Around hundred publishing houses have set up stalls at Shishu Chattar at the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela. A number of childrens’ books have been published by these publication houses. However, parents have claimed that there’s little to no variation in these books.

A window into world literature

Literature can leave a lifetime impact on our minds. It helps us understand ourselves and the world around us, and it transcends boundaries through translation. This year’s Ekushey book fair saw a large number of translated versions of world literature by prominent authors.

Where basic amenities remain elusive

Residents of the newly-added wards in Dhaka North City Corporation expressed dissatisfaction after being denied civic amenities, claiming that life was far better when they were under the union parishad.

Cultivating reading habits since 2001

At first glance, it looks like a simple tin-shed house. One will not even find any decent-looking furniture inside the room.

A village of mosques

Beraid is a small place in terms of size, but it is huge in terms of popularity, thanks to a large number of ancient mosques.

Amar Ekushey Boi Mela: Friday brings smiles on publishers’ faces

It was quite a sight. The premises of the Boi Mela in Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan were packed with bookworms. They were moving from one stall to another, turning through the pages of the books available and buying them.

Rabindranath: timeless echoes

It’s been more than a century since he won the Noble Prize in literature and 82 years since he passed away. However, Rabindranath Tagore remains alive in the minds of readers. Be it poetry, songs, novels, short stories or plays, the works of Rabindranath Tagore are forever etched in their minds.

A sea of red and yellow

People were coming hand in hand, wearing yellow and red color dresses. Celebrations of Pahela Fagun and Valentine’s Day were in the air everywhere yesterday, especially at the premises of Ekushey Boi Mela.

Spring arrives early at Boi Mela

It’s that time of the year again, when the first day of spring and the occasion to express one’s love coincide with the passion of bookworms, creating a festive atmosphere at Amar Ekushey Boi Mela.

Crowds a constant at the book fair

“There’s no better place to share a moment reading and pass on this habit, than a book fair,” said Farhana Taher, who was sitting next to a stage at the Suhrawardy Udyan yesterday.

Friday is a fun day for the children

It was a sunny morning, which was further brightened up with the presence of children, who turned up in huge numbers at Amar Ekushey Boi Mela with their parents. They bought books of their choice and had a fun time with the characters of Sisimpur (Sesame Street’s Bangladeshi adaptation).

Amar Ekushey Boi Mela: Old book, new price

Mahatabul Rahman was roaming around the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela with his wife. He went to a stall on the Suhrawardy Uddyan premises and took a book in his hand, raised his eyebrows and put it back.

Amar Ekushey Boi Mela: Readers hungry for new books

Although the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela is yet to go in full bloom, bookworms are already scouting the stalls looking for new reading material.

Readers rushing in for the classics

From the information centre, the announcer said Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay’s “Adarsha Hindu Hotel”, has been published by Abosor Prokashoni. Even after 73 years of his death, Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay’s book is being published. This goes to show that no matter what, classic literature books are always in demand.

Crowd gets bigger at book fair

Monowarul Islam was looking at the books in the stalls at Suhrawardy Udyan. He suddenly stopped in front of Anyaprokash and picked up Humayun Ahmed’s “Badshah Namdar”.

Welcoming new cultures around the world

Besides local books, readers are getting the scope to know about the language, history and culture of foreign countries at Amar Ekushey Boi Mela this year.

Something for everyone

The fourth day of the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela was infused with great smell and music. Added on top of that was the sound of flipping the pages of the new books that came to the fair, bringing their own music.

Plight of DNCC wards 52, 53: Life seemed better under union parishad

In July 2017, Dhaka North City Corporation took 18 wards under its wing, which were previously under the union parishad system.

A village of crabs, in Dhaka!

It was early morning. The sun had not yet risen, and most of Dhaka was still sleeping.

Fun day for little ones

Shankha Saha was having too much of a good time to pay heed to his father.

Watching planes their only entertainment

With a smiling face and curiosity in her eyes, six-year-old Anika stood beside a barbed wire fence and gazed up at the sky. Soon, an aeroplane took off with a loud roar.

Amar Ekushey Boi Mela: Fun day for the little ones

Shankha Saha was having too much of a good time to pay heed to his father..The seven-year-old was busy moving around the book fair at Suhrawardy Udyan this morning..Meanwhile, his father Shantanu Saha not only had to keep an eye on him, but also buy him books from the Sisimpur stall.

Amar Ekushey Boi Mela: A vibrant second day

Rafia Ahmed tagged her three-year-old son along with her on the second day of the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela, who was seen following her around, wanting to buy some books on “cars”.

Finally, the wait is over

For the first time in three years, February 1 marked the opening day of the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela, commemorating the memories of the Language Movement martyrs. The fair will continue till February 28.

Under the dirty water, there’s a ward

Some of the places remain under stagnant water for years, while some lack basic civic amenities, including proper roads or pure drinking water. None of these neighbourhoods has a single playground. Such are the states of the three wards in zone-9 of Dhaka North City Corporation.

Boi Mela to kick off Feb 1 after 3 years

In the last two years, Amar Ekushey Boi Mela has been marred by fears, delays, and uncertainties caused by the pandemic. However, Bangla Academy hopes that this year’s book fair will return to its former glory with life getting back on track.

Children robbed off a playground for 16 years

According to the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) website, Golapbagh field is the single biggest playground in south Dhaka. This ground was closed for 10 years from 2006 as construction materials of the Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover were kept on the ground.

A library that welcomes no reader

A modern building, covered in panes of black glass, stands at the capital’s Azimpur intersection. But what’s more fascinating than the distinct architecture is the fact that big nameplates on the building read “public toilet”.

Old Dhaka gears up for Shakrain

For Dhaka residents, when the winter breeze starts flowing through the city, it almost brings about a calling -- a calling to fly kites.

Hiccups couldn’t dampen the joy

Millions of school students are starting their new year with the refreshing scent of new textbooks, as authorities all across the nation began distributing the books yesterday.

Dorm for expatriate workers: Good initiative that needs promotion

Expatriate workers usually come to Dhaka one of two days ahead of their flight abroad from different districts of the country.

‘I’ll pass this story to my children’

As the metro-rail train started its maiden journey yesterday afternoon, Swadhin Ahmed, a young man, had a wide smile on his face. In fact, it was a day of pride for Swadhin, who had been working for the metro-rail project for three years.

Renovated for 4 years, ruined within one

Dhaka South City Corporation started renovating Sheikh Russell Park, situated on the north side of Jatrabari intersection, in 2017, so that residents can take a break from the concrete jungle and spend some quality time with friends and families there.