'A List of Offences' launched

Guests pose for photograph at the launching ceremony of a novel titled 'A List of Offences' a by Bangladesh born Swedish writer Dilruba Z Ara, at the National Press Club in the city yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

The novel, a saga of three generations of women in the then East Pakistan, was published by University Press Limited in April this year.

Dilruba had begun to write the book, her first ever novel, 10 years back in Swedish language, but it was not published. Then she translated the book into English, the author said while addressing the ceremony.

Dilruba said her novel is being translated into Spanish and Greek while it is expected that the book will be published in more than 70 countries.

"The novel is full of humour and social criticism, and the emancipation of a strong woman inside a traditional society was depicted in the book," Dilruba, daughter of late writer Shahed Ali, said.

Dilruba added that the story brings up issues of religion, ethnic origin, family and dynastic relations, rise and fall of love.

The book is priced at Tk 550.

The News Today Editor Reazuddin Ahmed, the Inquilab Feature Editor Abdul Gafur and Asian University Professor Fariduddin Khan also spoke on the occasion.