Sayyed Mohmud Ullah

In remembrance of Hanif Ahammed, Partha Guha

Noted percussionists Hanif Ahammed and Partha Guha fell victim to a road accident on March 13, 2021. The accident occurred in Chattogram's Mishorai, when a lorry hit their microbus from the opposite side. While Partha died on the spot, Hanif was declared dead in Chattogram Medical College Hospital. The duo had just finished a show in Chandpur, where eminent artistes Imran and Kona also performed. Prominent singers, songwriters, and composers took to social media to express their condolences for the tragic loss.

(Watch) Students serving free sehri, iftar

Hungry people, some with children, begin to gather near Raju sculpture on Dhaka University campus after midnight, and by 3:00am, there are almost 400 of them sitting down expectantly on the street.

Coronavirus outbreak: Ducsu leader feeding 200 marginalised people daily in Dhaka

Thousands of low-income people, especially those who are depending on their daily income to survive in Dhaka city, are in a bleak situation due to a 10-day government shutdown to fight the coronavirus epidemic. To ease their sufferings, many people and voluntary organisations are coming forward with help. Tanbir Hasan Shaikat, a member of Dhaka University Central Students Union (DUCSU), is one such individual. Shaikat is feeding around 200 people daily.

A helping hand to ease worries

The pharmacy department of Dhaka University (DU) has come forward to minimise fears centring novel coronavirus, which has gripped the university’s students.

Ekushey Book Fair: 4,919 new books, none published from DU

The month-long Amar Ekushey Granthamela, which ended on Saturday, witnessed the highest number of newly published books. However, no new title was released by Dhaka University (DU) publication, bringing into question why the university is lagging in the publishing scene.

A world of possibilities for new writers

The month-long Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela has traditionally been a debut ground for young, budding writers, and an avenue of opportunity for them to put their literary works in front of thousands of book lovers.

Govt organisations’ stalls drawing visitors

The stalls of government service providers and autonomous institutions have been drawing a good number of book lovers at the Bangla Academy portion of the month-long Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela this year.

Books for the underprivileged

While thousands of people visit the Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela every year and buy books of their choice, there are still many who have just the same hunger for reading, but cannot afford to do so.

Adding a touch of history

Thousands of book lovers’ footsteps have fallen on Suhrawardy Udyan throughout the Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela this year, at the site has witnessed significant historic events, most importantly Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s iconic speech on March 7, 1971.

Poetry, novels dominate numbers

With poetry leading the tally of new arrivals, a total of 2,340 new titles hit the stalls in the first 15 days of the monthlong Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela this year, the highest at the halfway mark in last five years.

Two celebrations add spark

There’s a book for almost everything, whether it be showing affection to a special someone, or celebrating one’s tradition. But what happens if you need a book that can express both? Yesterday was such an occasion, because it welcomed the first day of spring while love was in the air, and there’s no book on that as of yet.

A mistaken first day of spring

It was not the first day of spring -- according to the revised Bangla calendar, but Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela still adorned the colours of the season yesterday. Visitors showed up in shades of yellow, and the fair took on a festive mood as evening fell.

Elderly self-publisher’s photo goes viral

A photo of an elderly man standing in front of a stall at Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela 2020 goes viral on social media, with discussion on him being in full swing among book lovers.

Big day for little ones

Hundreds of children surrounded Sisimpur Mancha at Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela yesterday noon, shouting, “We love to read books!” They were accompanied by mascots of the popular characters from Sesame Street’s Bangladeshi adaptation.

An homage to Bangabandhu

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman remains an inseparable part of anything to do with Bangladesh, and with this year marking his birth centenary, the Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela is celebrating the Father of the Nation in full fervour.

Readers scope out catalogues

Enthusiastic publishers -- with catalogues of their new titles -- are all set to welcome bookworms at the Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela 2020, as the book fair was seen warming up to visitors in its second day yesterday.

Eventful first day

The month-long Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela 2020, the country’s largest book fair commemorating the heroes of language movement, began at Bangla Academy premises and the adjacent Suhrawardy Udyan yesterday, with a record number of 560 organisations participating this year.

Will thwart any threat: Ishraque

BNP mayoral candidate for Dhaka South City Corporation Ishraque Hossain yesterday said that his party leaders and activists would remain active to thwart “the ruling quarter’s threat to grab voting centres” in today’s elections.

Refrain from influencing the polls

It was 3:30pm yesterday in Old Dhaka’s Ray Shaheb Bazar Mor area. Traffic at the intersection halted as several hundred BNP leaders and activists surrounded their party mayor candidate Ishraque Hossain.

Oblique’s ‘Mogno’ released

The video for the new single, Mogno by the band Oblique, was released on their official YouTube channel, recently.

Need to prepare graduates for 4th industrial revolution

Asian universities should rethink how they can develop their graduates to fulfil the needs of the 21st century, said a visiting South Korean academician.

Big excitement for small entrepreneurs

Amid big excitement by small entrepreneurs, curtains dropped on the weeklong Unnayan Mela-2019 at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) yesterday.

Killings on Campuses: No punishment in most cases

Delays in investigations and no punishment of perpetrators of gruesome campus murders have fostered a culture of impunity at public universities.

6 Months of Ducsu: Nothing’s changed

In the run-up to the Ducsu polls, the candidates made many lofty promises about solving the accommodation crisis and protecting students’ rights.

Controversy, protest as BCL unveils committee

The pro-Awami League student body Chhatra League yesterday announced its 301-member full-fledged central committee, touching off controversy and demonstration by some of those who could not make it to the new committee.

Slow lines mark 6-hr voting

Right before voting for the election to the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu), the authorities of Dhaka University's Bijoy Ekkator Hall around 8:00am opened empty ballot boxes in front of the candidates.

Doubt reigns as DU votes today

The much-awaited elections to Ducsu and hall unions will be held today amid dominance of Bangladesh Chhatra League and questionable roles of the university authorities.

Women voters the deciders?

Candidates are campaigning giving special attention to female students who constitute about 36 percent of the total number of voters in the Ducsu polls on Monday.

DUCSU Election 2019: BCL faces tough challenges

Candidates from Chhatra League for the posts of vice-president and general secretary are set to have a tight race with quota reformists and other student leaders in Monday's Ducsu polls, say campus sources.

No new publication from Dhaka University

Despite its reputation as the highest echelon of education in the country, Dhaka University (DU) publication is yet to publish any new book at the month-long Ekushey book fair that ends tomorrow.

A good part-time job opportunity

The month-long Ekushey book fair provides a number of young people with the opportunity to earn some money and have an amicable experience of interacting with visitors while working as stall attendants.

Ekushey in books

Imbued with the spirit of love for their mother tongue, people from different walks of life thronged Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela yesterday, marking the International Mother Language Day.

BCL yet to form full central committee

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) is yet to announce a full-fledged central committee, even though nine months have passed since the pro-Awami League student organisation held its last council.

Young writers find eager publishers

There was a time when young, aspiring writers had to struggle to get their work published but things have changed for the better. Publishers are now showing interest in young writers which was evident at the month-long Ekushey book fair.

Boimela in full bloom

The Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela saw a huge gathering of booklovers yesterday, on the weekend following two lively days -- Pahela Falgun and Valentine's Day.

A splash of Falgun

Celebrations marking Pahela Falgun, the first day of spring in the Bangla calendar, spilled over to yesterday's proceedings at the Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela, with a large turnout of people in a festive mood.

An exercise in honesty

There are over 700 stalls and pavilions at this year's Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela, and there are salespersons in all of them… except for one.

Joint Panels for Ducsu Polls: Student bodies in talks with allies

Likeminded student organisations have been reaching out to each other in the hope of forming alliances to contest the coming Ducsu election.

Themed pavilions, stalls add to book fair's charm

Colourful pavilions and stalls, showcasing the country's traditional themes of the respective publication houses, have made the month-long Amar Eksuhey Grantha Mela easy on the eyes.

Discontent over Ducsu charter

Different student organisations have been pressing for solutions to some contentious issues, including the charter amendment, over the long-anticipated election to Dhaka University Central Students' Union.

Suicide at public univs rises in 2yrs

Nineteen students from five public universities died by suicide last year, showing a rise in such incidents.

Can university teachers run for parliament?

Defying the Representation of People Order (RPO), at least eight teachers of two public universities have bought nomination forms to contest the upcoming national election. Of them, seven teach at Dhaka University and one at Jagannath University.