Liberation War
Is Jamaat's strength in changing colour
No third political force has emerged in Bangladesh after the Awami League and BNP. The Jatiya Party has effectively acted as the Awami League’s B team. Since the July uprising, there have been murmurs in the public sphere that Jamaat-e-Islami might form the next government. The results of student union elections at several public universities appear to hint at that possibility.
Jamaat had honeymoon period with both Awami League and BNP
Writer and researcher Mohiuddin Ahmed is at the same time a historian and a valiant freedom fighter. Among those who have written, analysed and researched most on the political context of post-independence Bangladesh, he is one. He is the only political writer in Bangladesh who wrote a book on the 1973 election titled “The Election of ’73”. He has also written “Red Terror: Siraj Sikder and Proletariat Politics”, “Anti-hero Sirajul Alam Khan”, “Awami League BNP: Which Way”, “The Rise and Fall of Jasad: Politics of a Turbulent Time” and many other works. He continues to write on contemporary politics.
Badruddin Umar unparalleled in many ways: Serajul Islam Choudhury
Badruddin Umar was an extraordinary man, in many ways he was unparalleled. He too was attacked by the human frailties that exist in society, but they could not divert him. He was not afraid, he did not panic even under state terror. The lure of honour and awards never touched him.
The Unfinished Autobiography is indeed written by Bangabandhu
Abul Kasem Fazlul Haque. Renowned essayist in the Bangla language, social analyst, literary critic and political thinker. He is currently serving as the President of the Bangla Academy. This former professor of the Department of Bangla at Dhaka University spoke to Views Bangladesh on several recent issues. The interview was conducted by Views Bangladesh Editorial Assistant Shahadat Hossain Towhid.
Why indecent slogans in politics
To hit back at the opponent, political slogans have always included a few unpleasant words. For instance, the well-known chant: “Beat so-and-so with shoes, beat in rhythm.” But now, in Bangladesh, some political slogans have emerged that are extremely distasteful and vulgar. Respectable people cover their ears when they hear them. In many recent OTT films, vulgar words are muted with a “toot toot” sound. The audience understands from the “toot toot” that a swear word has been uttered. Recently, television news has also been seen using “toot toot” in place of political slogans. Such vulgar slogans are now being used that they can neither be spoken nor written.
An unconstitutional govt can never be democratic
The Liberation War of 1971 comes up repeatedly in various ways. That was a time of great hardship. Each of us was in grave danger. Every day, every night, even every moment was filled with terror. We thought about our own safety, at most we were occupied with concerns about our loved ones. We exchanged news, wanted to know what was happening where, listened to the radio, thought about how to help the freedom fighters, while those who were at war were fighting for their very lives. There was work for all of us. Danger pursued us, but we also had dreams. There was a dream ahead. A collective and enormous dream. We hoped we would drive the invaders out, that we would be free, and towards that goal we worked. Everyone wanted to contribute in whatever way they could.
India-Bangladesh cultural exchange: Memory, identity and future
build and change upon this landscape. Agriculture is culture, cooking is culture, and therefore even fishing is culture. That is why I do not know whether we should see as cultural exchange the recent incident in which 95 people lost their way into the seas of Bangladesh, were caught by police of the other country, and, as I heard, were returned after being beaten severely. If it is an exchange, surely it is not an example of “lawful” or mutually desired exchange between two countries.
The poet who set alphabet ablaze with resistance
There is no greater achievement in our national life than the struggle for independence and the Liberation War. Countless poems have been written about these subjects. Poet Shamsur Rahman portrayed independence, the Liberation War, and patriotism in poetry with a powerful and aesthetic touch. His poems have found a place on people's lips, in slogans, on placards, wall writings, banners, and festoons. Like:
I am successful as a teacher, not as a writer
Essayist and educationist Professor Jatin Sarker (August 18, 1936 –August 13, 2025) was a man enriched through the pursuit of knowledge, who, standing on his own soil, could witness the sunrise of the entire world. By reading his autobiographical work The Birth and Death of Pakistan – A Vision, one can easily understand how he became Jatin Sarker. He was a follower of the philosophy of ‘dialectical and historical materialism’, a line of thought reflected in his book “Bangalir Samajtantrik Oitihyo” (The Socialist Tradition of the Bengali). However, he believed that in his work “Prakritojoner Jibondorshon” (Life Philosophy of the Common People), he expressed a distinctive and original perspective. His first book, Expectations from Literature, was published in 1985, when he was fifty. Including all genres, he published nearly fifty books in total. On Wednesday (13 August), this great thinker passed away. Long before his death, poet Shishir Rajan had interviewed him. The interview is being published here in memory of Jatin Sarker.
Our Mahfuza Apa – In Memory and Remembrance
As I write this, the truth is that our respected Mahfuza Khanam Apa has set out on her eternal journey. If one is born, one must die – that is the truth; but some people do not just remain idle after being born. They leave their mark through their work. And because of those marks, we are bound to remember them.