Bengali writers have endured police repression since British rule
Zakir Talukder is one of Bangladesh's leading litterateurs. His notable novels include Pitrigan, Musalmanmongol, Kobi O Kamini, Kursinama, 1992, and many others. He has written around 25 novels and over a hundred short stories. In addition to his fiction, he has authored several essays, including the much-discussed book ‘What Was Karl Marx Like?’. In 2014, he was awarded the Bangla Academy Literary Award, but on January 28, 2024, he announced that he would refuse the award. Known for his outspoken Views on political and social issues in the country, Talukdar is a progressive and science-oriented writer who is also a practicing physician. At the beginning of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025, some controversy arose. He talked to Views Bangladesh about the Book Fair and the current situation in the country. The interview was conducted by the writer Kamrul Ahsan.