Issue 3

Editorial

If we do not utilise and independently strengthen our democratic institutions, extrajudicial and unconstitutional extremism are only empowered more. Bangladesh is one of the most significant examples of this. Human rights have become a rhetorical concept now. There is systematic persecution of the LGBTQ+ community. Writers and bloggers are unable to exercise their freedoms of speech and expression. Publishers have to think twice before publishing any book lest it puts them in danger. The compromises the current Bangladeshi government is making with Islamic fundamentalists are a cause of great concern. In this situation, secularists are living in fear for rationalism and democratic values. Many other countries are similarly facing continuous attacks on their freedoms. Saudi atheist writer and activist Raif Badawi has been suffering in prison for several years. This is the reality of our modern world. This reality wounds us and fills our lives with bloodshed, anger, and protest. We want people all over the world – whether in Bangladesh, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas – to be able to speak freely, to express opinions and criticise openly.

Speech at Oslo Freedom Forum

Greetings everybody.  My love affair with books began at an early age. A love of reading turned into a love of writing, which turned into a passion for publishing. I started my very first magazine when I was in my first year of college  – I called it Suddhashar, which means  “True Sense” or “True

চোখবন্ধ অন্ধ সময়

উপন্যাস ২য় পর্ব চার:  ছোটচাচার ওপর এ্যাটাকের পর, টানা কয়েক দিন ছোটচাচার আবহে থাকার দরুণ অঞ্জলীর ভাবনার জগতে আমূল একটা পরিবর্তন এলো, যেন; ঘুমিয়ে পরা ভাবনার জগৎ সশব্দ কড়ানাড়ায় দড়ফড়িয়ে জেগে ওঠলো। কয়েক মাস আগেও ও ভাবতে পারেনি এমন কোনো পরিবর্তনের কথা বা প্রয়োজনীয়তা। ঠিক এই সময়টাতে দাঁড়িয়ে ওর মনে হয়, যদিও পরিবর্তনের কথা ও

Statement (for Tutul)

Since the clocks went forward I’ve had so much energy that in the evenings it’s taking three cans of Amstel to make me even want to sleep. The woman at the next table is eating scrambled eggs. What I am aiming to do here is to make a statement of solidarity. During the time I

শুদ্ধস্বর
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