Emran Mahfuz

Emran Mahfuz

Poet and litterateur Emran Mahfuz Born on 10th October in Comilla district in Bangladesh, Emran is a son of a veteran freedom fighter Abul Kalam Mohammed Nurul Alam Khan and Bilkish Begum. He is the editor of the literary magazine “Kaler Dhoni” and Star Books-Coordinator in English daily ‘The Daily Star’. He has already published 7 books till 2019.

Would I be the kind of person to forget history?

Forgetting history and dismissing sacrifices seemed ingrained in Bangalee's nature.

2w ago

Bittersweet, say Al Mahmud's fans

The literary giant deserved the honour years ago

2w ago

His lament was the unfulfilled promise of democracy

Following autocracy's fall, debates on the constitution, elections, & democracy intensify, echoing Abul Mansur Ahmad's insights.

3w ago

The Pen Against Power in the Fight for Justice

On the brink of victory in 1971, as the masses fought for freedom, Pakistanis stained December 14 with the blood of the nation’s leading educators, journalists, doctors, and writers. Since then, the day has been marked as Intellectuals’ Day, a reminder that true intellectuals, regardless of their beliefs, fearlessly speak and write the truth against injustice.

3m ago

“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.

1y ago

‘Good books will always find good readers’: Dipankar Das

The crux of the issue is whether or not good books are reaching the intended readers.

1y ago

“Books need to be highlight to elevate a country to the global level”: Abdullah Abu Sayeed

This is how the gradual exchange of literature and culture takes place.

1y ago

Ranajit Guha was the youngest at heart: Dipesh Chakraborty

"The enthusiasm which Ranajit Guha created in our minds in the field of thinking and writing history for more than a decade has never been replicated in the past nor will it be replicated in the future", Dipesh Chakraborty said.

1y ago
October 2, 2022
October 2, 2022

Rising dollar prices impact book trade

Publishers are fearing that the number of readers as well as buyers will gradually decrease. 

September 5, 2022
September 5, 2022

‘I enjoy being alone’: Helal Hafiz

Helal Hafiz has been suffering from glaucoma for a long time, alongside complications with his kidney, diabetes and nerve complications.

September 3, 2022
September 3, 2022

Abul Mansur Ahmad saw the world for what it could be

As a visionary and an intellectual, Abul Mansur Ahmad was far ahead of his time.

February 18, 2022
February 18, 2022

‘Society is evolving; we have to evolve with it’

Renowned novelist Selina Hossain, after retiring as the director of the Bangla Academy, has recently been reappointed as its chairperson. In a conversation with Emran Mahfuz of The Daily Star, she talks about the academy, the Ekushey Book Fair, society, culture and more.

December 2, 2021
December 2, 2021

‘Nazrul initiated our awakening’

Professor Rafiqul Islam was a writer, linguist, researcher and an educationist. He was the first Nazrul professor and director of Nazrul Research Institute at the Bangla department of Dhaka University (DU).

April 13, 2021
April 13, 2021

Boi Mela 2021: Huge blows dealt to the publishing industry

Very few visitors were seen on the last day of the Boi Mela yesterday, it being a working day.

April 8, 2021
April 8, 2021

Gyantapas Abdur Razzak Essay Competition celebrated

The results of the essay competition organised by Gyantapas Abdur Razzak Foundation, conducted virtually through Zoom, were announced on April 5. Each of the winners has been awarded with certificates and cash prizes.

April 8, 2021
April 8, 2021

History books more popular at this year’s Boi Mela

Sales are starting to look up at the Boi Mela compared to the beginning of the lockdown. More visitors, most wearing face masks, were seen at the book fair premises yesterday given the availability of public transport.

April 5, 2021
April 5, 2021

Boi Mela sees no activity under lockdown

As per government mandated instructions, the Ekushey Boi Mela opened at 12 pm today while the rest of the city observed a lockdown. No visitors were seen at the entrance for the first 45 minutes of opening.

March 21, 2021
March 21, 2021

Boi Mela updates as of Friday

The Ekushey Boi Mela, which was inaugurated on March 18, 2021, is stretching out across an expanded space of 1500,000 sq ft to accommodate the 834 stalls allocated to 540 organisations this year.