interview
Carbon emissions, climate change, and the cacao tree
In conversation with Shams-il Arefin Islam where he talks about his work and sheds light on how the cacao tree acts as an early climate alarm bell.
20 February 2025, 11:46 AM
ISD celebrates 25 years of success with a new strategy in place
ISD is celebrating its 25th anniversary. On this occasion, Rising Stars sat down with Steve Calland-Scoble, the Director of ISD and an accomplished educator, to talk about the school and its plans going forward.
28 November 2024, 08:35 AM
The old and new Bangladesh from the eyes of a historical fiction writer
In the West, South Asian literature is primarily dominated by works from India and then Pakistan. This dominance has made it difficult for Bangladeshi authors to receive the attention they deserve for their work
1 November 2024, 18:00 PM
Unconventional realities and intense friendships
Saikat Majumdar writes with a sharp poignancy that arrows straight to the core of the heart.
11 October 2024, 18:00 PM
Into the world of speculative fiction: An Interview with 'Small World City'
This past August, Dhaka’s speculative fiction magazine 'Small World City' enjoyed their first anniversary. The magazine, over this last year, has published some of the more striking works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry coming out of the country
3 September 2024, 14:30 PM
Outliers take centre-stage in Shah Tazrian Ashrafi’s debut collection
It’s hard not to recall our many conversations about literature as I try to summarise Shah Tazrian Ashrafi’s debut collection of short stories. They were always short discussions, opening and closing off in spurts, as happens over text. Exclamations over a new essay collection by Zadie Smith, or a new novel by Isabel Allende.
26 June 2024, 18:00 PM
A look at AAPI representation in tech with Kyla Zhao of ‘Valley Verified’
This week, Kyla Zhao, the author of Valley Verified (Penguin Random House, 2024), graced us with an exclusive interview to give us insights into the changing trends in Asian American literature.
19 June 2024, 18:00 PM
Of language and free will
'We are truly prisoners of the mind', says Sanya Rushdi, the author-narrator of Hospital (Giramondo Publishing, 2023)
5 June 2024, 18:00 PM
On making zines with Aqui Thami
A big believer in social exchanges and developing safe spaces to position art as a medium of healing in community, Thami works on ceremonial interventions, performances, drawings, zine-making, fly posting, and public intervention, brought together by participant involvement
29 May 2024, 18:00 PM
A perfect cup of literary ‘saa’
Priyanka Taslim greets me with a gentle smile as we meet over Zoom. She is eloquent and our conversation flows organically, akin to an adda over a cup of saa (cha).
8 May 2024, 18:00 PM
Uncovering history through storytelling
In conversation with Reem Bassiouney on the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, 'Al Halwani', and bridging the cultural gap
21 April 2024, 14:00 PM
"It's the start of a conversation": Journalist Kavita Puri on producing a podcast series on the Bengal famine
In the latest documentary podcast series “Three Million”, journalist Kavita Puri seeks to answer this haunting question: “How do three million people just disappear?” by talking to some of the last surviving witnesses, including Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen.
8 April 2024, 13:45 PM
In conversation with Shazia Omar: Fiction, wellness, readership, and everything in between
'I would like to see more writing coming out of Bangladesh,' Shazia Omar said. 'We are still behind'
23 March 2024, 16:00 PM
In conversation with Jo Mithen, CEO, Monash College
Jo Mithen is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Monash College. Monash College is a wholly owned subsidiary of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.
21 March 2024, 01:37 AM
Rifat Munim on Bangladeshi fiction: ‘This is a diverse terrain you are going to tread on’
In the foreword, I wanted to capture how I, as a child, grew up listening to different stories: ghost stories, mythical stories from both Sanatana and Islamic religious scriptures, and fairy tales from 'Thakurmar Jhuli', compiled by Dakkhinaranjan Mitra Majumdar. It was a time when there were no boundaries for my imagination.
23 February 2024, 18:00 PM
A fixed strand of identity: in conversation with Amal Awad
As a Palestinian-Australian, you’ve stressed the importance of telling stories about everyday Palestinians. Why is it important to tell such stories?
24 January 2024, 18:00 PM
In conversation with Anjali Singh and Arif Anwar
"I think of myself as someone who just really enjoys people, bringing people out, and hearing about what they’re working on": Anjali Singh
30 December 2023, 13:55 PM
Tips for acing your first job interview
It's crucial to stay current as a candidate by keeping up with the latest trends in your field.
19 October 2023, 10:23 AM
“We need writers to know what society will look like in the future”
A large number of contemporary writers in the country think of avoiding politics. But that itself is also a kind of politics—the politics of the status quo.
6 October 2023, 13:38 PM
Unravelling Bangali feminism and female rage
Feminism and literature share a profound connection as literature gives voice to the experiences of women, allowing us to understand their perspective. However, despite the abundance of information in the technological age, the promotion of feminist books remains a challenge in Bangladesh, often facing criticism from conservatives.
18 August 2023, 18:00 PM