Feluda, the idea of ‘Bangali Bhadralok’, and the gendered silence in detective fiction
These decisions hint at an implicit belief that certain genres or readerships require the exclusion of certain genders, whether due to artistic limitations, market considerations, or adherence to established genre conventions.
8 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Reading Begum Rokeya, again and always
Begum Rokeya was once described as a “Spider Mother” (makar-mata or makarsha janani) in her biographical account but there is nothing sinister in this metaphor. The image of the spider here symbolises the quiet, patient, and selfless labour of an educator, caring for children who were not her own. Shamsunnahar Mahmud, her close co-worker, wrote: “Day after day in this way, with the blood of her own breast, Spider Mother began to revive hundreds of baby spiders into new life.”
23 April 2025, 18:00 PM
6 literary characters we wish could join our Eid table
What if our Eid table had a few extra chairs reserved not for guests from our world but from that of the books we’ve loved throughout our life?
4 April 2025, 18:00 PM
The power of Qasidas and devotional poetry in deepening Ramadan reflections
While core acts of devotion take center stage, qasidas (Islamic odes) and devotional poetry serve as powerful complements, enriching the experience of Ramadan and deepening one’s spiritual reflections
22 March 2025, 13:45 PM
From protests to power: The journey to Bangladesh’s July Uprising
Over the past couple of decades, Bangladesh has witnessed three significant social and political movements that have shaped the course of its history.
5 March 2025, 18:00 PM
Inside Ekushey Boi Mela: Books, readers and more
The Amar Ekushey Boi Mela unfolds like a familiar story -- one that returns every February, carrying with it the weight of history, the pulse of the present, and the dreams of a generation yet to come. It is a homecoming for readers, writers, and dreamers alike, a place where stories old and new find their way into eager hands
26 February 2025, 16:48 PM
Finding Obayed Haque: A contemporary writer who lives in his words
If you pick up an Obayed Haque novel, you won’t find an author’s photo, a detailed biography, or even a note about his life.
21 February 2025, 18:00 PM