Faria Basher named Asia Regional Winner of Commonwealth Short Story Prize
She is the first writer of Bangladeshi origin to win the regional prize
14 May 2025, 10:46 AM
‘Let it be a tale’: Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha wins Pulitzer Prize
Other Pulitzer Prize winners in the arts included Percival Everett in the Fiction category for his novel 'James', Branden Jacobs-Jenkins in the Drama category for his play 'Purpose', and Marie Howe in the Poetry category for her collection, 'New and Selected Poems'
6 May 2025, 16:00 PM
Bangladeshi writer Faria Basher shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2025
“An Eye and a Leg” has been described as "a darkly humorous and surreal take on the trope of the ‘expiring’ South Asian woman"
15 April 2025, 15:00 PM
Whose language matters: On inclusion, identity, and silence
The panel supplied a critical as well as emotional commentary on the issues of linguistic hegemonisation, power imbalances, the marginalisation of non-Bangali languages and identities, and the aftermath of the revolutionary spirit of July 2024
26 March 2025, 15:30 PM
Books about female rage
With International Women’s Day being celebrated across the world tomorrow, we here at Star Books and Literature decided to take a moment to read and reflect on the many expressions of female rage in both ancient and contemporary literature
7 March 2025, 15:00 PM
'Bhasha Andoloner Itihash' by Bashir Al Helal
Tracing back the events before the Language Movement of 1952, Al Helal presents a detailed account of the events that unfolded during February 1952.
21 February 2025, 18:00 PM
Silent verses on a bed of arrows
“‘Shoroshojya’ is more than just a book. It’s the war we’ve fought, the emotions we’ve felt, and it is the story of a person who fought for his life”
17 February 2025, 05:30 AM
Anwar Ehtesham unveils his first photo book, ‘Hopes and Dreams’
This collection of 121 compelling photographs captures the hopes, dreams, resilience, and daily lives of Dhaka’s working-class individuals
6 February 2025, 15:30 PM
‘A platform for erasing the cancelling of the other’: ULAB’s Inter-University Student Conference
The 2022 Inter-University Student Conference and Cultural Competition explored different facets of conflict and avenues for conflict resolution on topics within literature, language, linguistics, cultural studies, communication studies, translation studies, and digital humanities.
2 November 2022, 12:00 PM
Academics discuss Afsan Chowdhury’s ‘Narider Ekattor’
“The liberation war was terrifying for women and this is why Afsan Chowdhury’s book is crucial. It is important to study our culture to understand the history of our liberation war,” said Professor Sonia Nishat Amin.
23 October 2022, 11:56 AM
Dua Lipa stresses the importance of The Booker Prize
When being asked how she finds the time to read, she shared that she reads backstage or in the backseat of her car, on her way to meetings or interviews, “especially if I’m into a book”.
22 October 2022, 13:00 PM
ULAB to hold Inter-University Student Conference from Thursday
In a break from last year’s partially virtual format, this year’s event will be held at ULAB’s Permanent Campus in Beribad and its Research Building in Dhanmondi, Dhaka.
19 October 2022, 09:44 AM
10th Dhaka Lit Fest will include Nobel Prize winners Orhan Pamuk and Abdulrazak Gurnah
After a two year hiatus caused by Covid-19, the 10th edition of the Dhaka Literary Festival will take place from January 5-8, 2023, at the capital’s Bangla Academy.
14 October 2022, 12:58 PM
Rahitul Islam's novels reflect Digital Bangladesh
A portion of the donation has been given to Sanjida Akter of Natore for the treatment of her eyes. Akter was the victim of an acid attack in November last year.
14 October 2022, 09:00 AM
UPL releases 21st edition of Akbar Ali Khan’s ‘Porarthoporotar Orthoniti’
“Its insights into history and realism make it as enjoyable to the reader as it is deep into the subject”, UPL stated about the 21st edition of Porarthoporotar Orthoniti.
13 October 2022, 10:43 AM
Annie Ernaux wins Nobel Prize in Literature
Ernaux has received the award for her “the courage and clinical acuity with which she uncovers the roots, estrangements and collective restraints of personal memory.”
6 October 2022, 11:19 AM
'Bangladesh is divided along cultural fault lines', Professor Mohammad Azam discusses at Gyantaposh Abdur Razzak Foundation
The culture and traditions of the country have been colonised. Thoughts which originate in Kolkata are being accepted in Dhaka’s society without due consideration.
25 September 2022, 09:37 AM
Hilary Mantel, author of Wolf Hall trilogy, no more
Hilary Mantel, British author of the Tudor series of books known as the Wolf Hall trilogy, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 22, Reuters reports. The twice Booker Prize-winning author was 70.
23 September 2022, 17:01 PM
ULAB Literary Salon to discuss freedom of speech today
Writers of both fiction and non-fiction have come under increasing pressure and censorship across South Asia. To discuss these issues, the fifth ULAB Lit Salon brings together a diverse group of experts drawn from policy and its practice, publishing, and media.
17 September 2022, 06:32 AM
SHOUTxDS Books presents ‘Slam Poetry Nights’ — Episode 1
The poems ranged from mental health issues to individual freedom of expression and every musing in between.
15 September 2022, 11:58 AM
Economics, literature, history: Akbar Ali Khan in books
Dr Khan focused on Bangladesh’s historical roots as “the last major nation-state to proclaim its identity” —a country that changed its statehood twice in less than 25 years.
9 September 2022, 12:58 PM
South Asia Speaks creative writing mentorship open for applications
The free, year-long fellowship for creative writers from South Asia, is accepting applications until September 30, 2022.
7 September 2022, 07:35 AM
‘Beshya O Bidhushir Golpo’ questions a gender-biassed society
The book contains important research on the type of language used by mainstream media in reporting news of rape, torture, and abuse of women.
28 August 2022, 10:54 AM
What to read if you liked watching ‘Hawa’
The film is a deep dive into Bangladesh’s rivers and the fishermen who hold up the country’s underbelly, along with the revelry, the mythologies that run across the folk culture of majhis and Bede communities.
27 August 2022, 05:57 AM
Mashiul Alam joins prestigious Iowa International Writing Program
Journalist and author Mashiul Alam has been selected as a resident of the 2022 Iowa International Writing Program (IWP), among the world’s most prestigious creative writing residencies.
16 August 2022, 14:21 PM
ULAB Lit Salon to host discussion on Partition and its aftermath on August 13
The event will discuss the Bengal Partition of 1905, a second Partition of Bengal—and the Indian subcontinent in 1947—and the birth of Bangladesh in 1971. The Salon will showcase aspects of these partitions, living histories that bind India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
12 August 2022, 13:03 PM
‘Indigenous In the Edge’ outlines lives of 17 ethnic groups in Bangladesh
Members of each community have reviewed the information that attempts to offer insight into the histories, homes, the clans and tribes that make up each community, the food habits and religious and cultural practices, and the languages, written and oral, they employ.
9 August 2022, 14:56 PM
DhakaYeah designs book cover for HarperCollins India
The novel, first published in Bangla as Narach, is set in late 19th century colonial Bengal.
5 August 2022, 06:56 AM