Vilification of a well-known scholar is a threat to us all
The lack of protest against this undemocratic move is also concerning.
The genocide of March 25 as a metaphor
Pakistan is the metaphor of everything Bangladesh doesn't want to be.
Reading as a form of resistance: Some anecdotes from the 1971 war
After the war, the library authorities placed advertisements requesting people to return any books from the library that they might have in their possession, but the response was poor. The library's hundred-year-old collection was lost forever.
Rakhine is boiling again. Will we look away?
After a two-year pause, the conflict between the Arakan Army (AA) and Myanmar’s military junta has resurged in Rakhine.
Can we reimagine rivers before it is too late?
It is a tragic irony that riverine Bangladesh has become the land of dying rivers.
When the state defeats its people
The draconian Digital Security Act (DSA) strikes again, and most worryingly, in collusion with communal bigotry.
PM Hasina’s India visit 2022: Will India ever reciprocate our favour?
This time also, there is no major gain from PM Hasina's visit.
What impact did the Partition have on Dhaka's book trade?
The impact of the 1947 Partition was felt in every aspect of Dhaka's printing and publishing business, and the book trade in the new provincial capital took a momentous turn. How did it impact the booksellers, printers, and the material being published?
How Partition impacted the Dhaka book trade
With the expansion of the publishing business, bookshops also sprang up in various parts of Old Dhaka, particularly in Chawkbazar, Islampur, Mughaltuli and Patuatuli. It is estimated that the number of bookshops in Dhaka till 1900 were no less than 40.
The testimony of Manik Mia
After the death of journalist Tofazzal Hossain, popularly known as Manik Mia, politician, journalist and litterateur Abul Mansur Ahmad wrote in a commemorative article titled “Jati Je Manik Harailo,” “It didn’t take us long to understand (what a gem we had lost); the countrymen understood it much later.”
Tea workers’ suffering is not just a labour issue
On May 20, 1921, around 3,000 tea labourers were waiting at Chandpur railway station.
Songs of our soil: In praise of Mymensingh’s Bangla folk ballads
Folk-ballads are living archives that represent the imagination, values, ideas, and aesthetics of the people to whom they belong. Folk-ballads are living archives that represent the imagination, values, ideas, and aesthetics of the people to whom they belong.
‘Long delays defeat the purpose of justice’
Prof Abul Quasem Fazlul Huq, the Ahmad Sharif professor at the Department of Bangla in the University of Dhaka, speaks about the verdict on Prof Humayun Azad murder case, which came out yesterday, and the overall situation in Bangladesh in a conversation with Shamsuddoza Sajen and Priyam Paul of The Daily Star.
Carole Angier on writing the biography of WG Sebald
In Speak, Silence: In Search of W.G. Sebald (Bloomsbury, 2021), you write that the author’s British publisher, Christopher MacLehose, was in a dilemma to decide on Sebald’s genre of writing. After writing about his novel and his life for so long, how would you define Sebald’s genre?
Bangladesh wins freedom
The Liberation War in Bangladesh formally ended with the unconditional surrender by the Pakistan army in Dhaka today.
Bhutto walks out in tears
In a letter dated December 15, 1971, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi expressed her deep frustration to US President
Malik cabinet resigns en masse
The entire regional government of East Pakistan headed by Dr AM Malik resigned today, disassociating itself from the central administration of Pakistan President Yahya Khan.
Third Soviet veto bars truce plan
In a letter to the UN Secretary General U Thant, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi said “there can be a ceasefire and withdrawal of Indian armed forces” if Pakistan withdraws its troops from Bangladesh and reaches a political solution with the leaders there.
India, Russia discuss Bangladesh war
Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Vasily V Kuznetsov held talks on Bangladesh with Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi today in New Delhi.
Pakistan general sends SOS to UN
The Bangladesh government today banned four communal parties -- the Muslim League, the Jamaet-i-Islami, the Nizami Islam and the People’s Democratic Party. The announcement was made by acting president Syed Nazrul Islam in Jashore.
Mitro Bahini closing in on Dhaka
In a backchannel message, Henry Kissinger, the US president’s Assistant for national security affairs, informed US
Pakistan accepts truce call of UN
Pakistan informed the United Nations today that she had “decided to accept” the General Assembly’s call for ceasefire and for a withdrawal of hostile troops to their own soil.
India derides UN proposal for ceasefire
A senior Indian spokesman today disputed statements by a White House spokesman that Indian military intervention in East Pakistan had foiled American efforts to persuade the Bangalee “insurgents” and the Pakistan authorities to reach a political settlement.
General Assembly holds emergency debate
The UN General Assembly today held an emergency debate on the Indo-Pakistan war with Argentina proposing an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of troops of both sides.
India recognises Bangladesh
Amidst tumultuous cheers and jubilation at Lok Sabha, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi announced today that India has recognised the government of Bangladesh.
Russia vetoes troop-pullback proposal
The Soviet Union vetoed today in the UN Security Council an American resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Indian-Pakistani conflict and for the withdrawal of the armed forces of both the countries to their own side of the border.
My aim is to make Pakistan armed forces surrender: Lt Gen Aurora
The Mitro Bahini (India-Bangladesh Joint Command) swung into action against Pakistan today. The air force of the Joint Command
Today the war in Bangladesh has become a war on India: Indira
Pakistan today launched an undeclared full-scale war on India. Pakistan made air strikes on a number of airfields in the western region of India and began shelling several places. Immediately,
Pressure on India won’t work: Indira
Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi declared today that it did not worry India at all as to who called her aggressor when she had not committed any aggression.
Road to Freedom: This Day in Bangladesh Liberation War History
The prime minister of Bangladesh, Tajuddin Ahmad, today said the proposal to send UN observers to Bangladesh was nothing but a “planned conspiracy” and “a foul attempt to protect the military regime from the back door”.
Indira wants Pak troop withdrawn from Bangladesh
Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi today suggested straightway withdrawal of Pakistani troops from Bangladesh as a gesture of peace . The presence of troops in Bangladesh is a “threat to our security”, she claimed.
Bangladesh will stand by India: Qamaruzzaman
The Pakistan government was called upon today to release details of the trial of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The demand came from the independent International Commission of Jurists which expressed its deep concern over the cloak of silence as to the trial.
No justice expected from Security Council: Indira
Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi today said any reference of the present tension on the Indian subcontinent to the UN Security Council would neither help ease the situation nor would it materially affect the situation.
I would like the Indians to be embarrassed: Nixon
US President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Henry Kissinger, in a telephone conversation today, informed President Nixon that he had told China,
Point of no return: Yahya
The Soviet Union made a new urgent appeal to Pakistan to desist from escalating the situation in the Indian subcontinent.
USA, UK call for restraint
Both America and Britain expressed their concern at the military confrontation between India and Pakistan, and appealed to the two states for restraint in the present “ potentially dangerous situation in the subcontinent”.
National emergency declared in Pakistan
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed today called upon the people of Bangladesh to turn the current phase of the Liberation War into a decisive one.
Kissinger’s plan for isolating India
Henry Kissinger, the US President’s assistant for National Security Affairs, called the US President Nixon today at 12:45pm and said, “There is no doubt there is a large encroachment taking place and it is heavily backed by the Indians.”
Joint command formed
China’s relations with Pakistan and the reported speech of the Chinese delegate at the United Nations were not unexpected, Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi said today.
Yahya declined to discuss with Mujib
Henry Kissinger, US president’s assistant for national security affairs, in a memorandum dated November 20, 1971, informed president Nixon
Yahya offers friendship
Indian external affairs minister Swaran Singh categorically rejected in Rajya Sabha today the reported American proposal to send a mission to India to study the Bangladesh problem.
Indira rejects Thant’s proposal
Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi turned down U Thant’s proposal that he help relieve tensions between India and Pakistan. She urged him to concentrate instead on ending the “civil war” in East Pakistan.
Bangladesh govt criticises proposal of political settlement
A daylight curfew was imposed on Dhaka today, reported The New York Times. There were unconfirmed reports of fighting
Bangladesh issue may be solved in a month or two: Indira
Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi, in a letter dated November 16, 1971, urged US president Nixon to “use the vast prestige of the United States and its wisdom” to find a political solution acceptable to the elected representatives of East Bengal and their leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Pakistani foreign secy calls on Kissinger
Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Sultan Khan called on US President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Henry Kissinger today.
Indira asks cabinet to give world last chance
Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi said that the international community ought to be given the chance to persuade President Yahya Khan to initiate, within the next week or so, a realistic political solution in East Pakistan.
Pakistan-China meeting at UN
Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, returning from a three’week Western tour, said today that the military confrontation with Pakistan was becoming “less and less tolerable”.
Indira rules out Tashkent-type talks
A Tashkent-type conference is not possible to solve the crisis created by Pakistan. But no problem is unsolvable and that even at the last moment the world can make the Yahya regime see reason and bow to the wishes of Bangalees.
April 20, 2023
Vilification of a well-known scholar is a threat to us all
The lack of protest against this undemocratic move is also concerning.
March 25, 2023
The genocide of March 25 as a metaphor
Pakistan is the metaphor of everything Bangladesh doesn't want to be.
March 23, 2023
Reading as a form of resistance: Some anecdotes from the 1971 war
After the war, the library authorities placed advertisements requesting people to return any books from the library that they might have in their possession, but the response was poor. The library's hundred-year-old collection was lost forever.
October 27, 2022
Rakhine is boiling again. Will we look away?
After a two-year pause, the conflict between the Arakan Army (AA) and Myanmar’s military junta has resurged in Rakhine.
September 25, 2022
Can we reimagine rivers before it is too late?
It is a tragic irony that riverine Bangladesh has become the land of dying rivers.
September 13, 2022
When the state defeats its people
The draconian Digital Security Act (DSA) strikes again, and most worryingly, in collusion with communal bigotry.
September 7, 2022
PM Hasina’s India visit 2022: Will India ever reciprocate our favour?
This time also, there is no major gain from PM Hasina's visit.
August 26, 2022
What impact did the Partition have on Dhaka's book trade?
The impact of the 1947 Partition was felt in every aspect of Dhaka's printing and publishing business, and the book trade in the new provincial capital took a momentous turn. How did it impact the booksellers, printers, and the material being published?
August 19, 2022
How Partition impacted the Dhaka book trade
With the expansion of the publishing business, bookshops also sprang up in various parts of Old Dhaka, particularly in Chawkbazar, Islampur, Mughaltuli and Patuatuli. It is estimated that the number of bookshops in Dhaka till 1900 were no less than 40.
June 1, 2022
The testimony of Manik Mia
After the death of journalist Tofazzal Hossain, popularly known as Manik Mia, politician, journalist and litterateur Abul Mansur Ahmad wrote in a commemorative article titled “Jati Je Manik Harailo,” “It didn’t take us long to understand (what a gem we had lost); the countrymen understood it much later.”
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