books

Taliban govt clearing 'un-Islamic' books from Afghanistan shelves

In October, the ministry announced the commission had identified 400 books "that conflicted with Islamic and Afghan values, most of which have been collected from the markets".

THE SHELF / 8 books to read in celebration of Women in Translation month

Women in Translation Month is an annual celebration that toasts to women authors from around the globe who write in languages other than English

Books / The book that rebelled: Arek Falgun by Zahir Raihan

The book is not only ardent in its refusal of authority but also speaks of detaching oneself from aspects of one’s life that add meaning in the pursuit of revolution.

Book recommendations on post-independence history of Bangladesh

A list of books that might help you get started on the political climate of Bangladesh after 1971

THE SHELF / 4 books I was grateful to read this year

It's true, I feel differently about books that I previously disliked or enjoyed reading and books that I want as a physical presence in my life

Where is my dictionary?

The recent internet blackout in Bangladesh put a spotlight on an often-forgotten tool: the dictionary. For writers and anyone who relies on crafting basic-level English communications, the lack of digital access was a stark reminder of our dependency on the internet.

REFLECTIONS / The tiny space between science and literature

"Growing to love something, and allowing that to change me is not immediate, it is not profound. Nor is it something caused just by reading a handful of books"

THE SHELF / Book-to-screen adaptations to look forward to in the second half of 2024

The first half of this year has treated us with some truly amazing book-to-screen adaptations like Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, A Gentleman in Moscow, and Ripley. The second half is also unlikely to disappoint. Here are some book-to-screen adaptations to pack the rest of your year with.

BOOK REVIEW: FICTION / Unseen chains of consequences

When a few boys arrive at the couple’s flat to seek out their college-going daughter, Rekha, the parents are thrown into a whirlwind of adventure.

March 20, 2023
March 20, 2023

'Teestar Kanna' brings Teesta shoal residents to tears

Poet and writer Ishor Dulon Roy, author of Teestar Kanna, told The Daily Star that many of his relatives live on the Teesta shoal. Once they were all rich, all now lost to the river erosion.

March 16, 2023
March 16, 2023

The University Press Limited heads to Chittagong

On Saturday, March 18, UPL will inaugurate its new sales centre in Chittagong at Jamal Khan Road’s Sanmar Spring Garden.

March 16, 2023
March 16, 2023

A memoir that helps understand development

Perhaps the most important contribution of the book lies in providing intimate insights into how NGOs work in Bangladesh.

March 16, 2023
March 16, 2023

Can ideology win over desire?

Set in 1990s Dhaka against the backdrop of the military occupation, the novella follows the lives of a young university professor, his wife, and their house help, Phulbanu. The story is narrated entirely from Phulbanu’s perspective. 

March 16, 2023
March 16, 2023

Rifqa: A spellbinding account of persecution, courage, and survival

At its core, Rifqa is a book about human struggles in painfully inhumane circumstances.

March 16, 2023
March 16, 2023

5 new books to read this week

Set in the backdrop of a nameless forest, the narrative of the play 'Ekti Moragachh O Charjon Narir Shopnobhongo' revolves around characters of William Shakespeare’s creation.

March 15, 2023
March 15, 2023

A diverse longlist for the 2023 International Booker Prize

Novels from India, the Caribbean, Ukraine, Spain, Bulgaria, Ivory Coast, France, Germany, Mexico, Sweden, China, Norway and South Korea in the longlist.

March 13, 2023
March 13, 2023

Love the Oscars winners? Here’s what you should read

The book behind the Oscar-winning adaptations, and books about the history of the award

March 12, 2023
March 12, 2023

To survive is to hope, in Nasreen Jahan’s ‘Urukku’

Originally published in 1993, 'Urukku' by Nasreen Jahan is a dive into the life of a young woman and a powerful commentary on human need.

March 12, 2023
March 12, 2023

Ghazala Wahab to speak at ULAB Lit Salon on Tuesday

Also a journalist, Wahab will speak about her nonfiction, Born A Muslim, a book that talks about the increasing political irrelevance of Muslims in India and the importance of feminist interpretations of the Quran, besides highlighting other relevant socio political issues.