An Israeli literary organization has been barred from participating in the upcoming Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy, according to reports from Middle East Monitor and Haaretz. The fair’s board decided not to allow any official Israeli institutions to exhibit, preventing the Israel Institute for Hebrew Literature from joining the event. The organization, funded by Israel’s culture and foreign ministries, was established to promote Israeli literature abroad and had previously participated in the Frankfurt Book Fair.

The Bologna Children’s Book Fair, one of the world’s largest and most influential publishing events, traditionally includes national stands from various countries. However, organizers cited a board decision to exclude official Israeli representation this year. The move comes amid ongoing violence in Gaza and allegations by human rights experts and legal scholars accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians.

Observers described the decision as a reflection of political and moral positioning within the global cultural sector, signaling a broader trend of cultural boycotts against Israel.

The three-day 9th Non-Fiction Book Fair began on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the Faculty of Business Studies premises of Dhaka University. The event is jointly organized by the Faculty of Business Studies and the newspaper Bonik Barta. Dhaka University Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Saima Haque Bidisha inaugurated the fair as the chief guest. She highlighted the fair’s role in promoting reading, knowledge creation, and social engagement between the university and the wider community.

Professor Bidisha expressed hope that such initiatives would encourage students to develop reading habits and analytical skills. Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Literary and Cultural Secretary Mosaddik Ali Ibn Mohammad remarked that the fair was a welcome initiative, especially as the annual international book fair would be delayed due to upcoming elections. Several other academic and publishing figures also spoke at the opening ceremony.

The fair features 39 publishing houses, including Dhaka University Press, and will remain open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until January 12, 2026.

Photographer Parvez Ahmed Rony has launched a solo exhibition titled 'Border That Bleeds' at the lake beside Korail slum in Dhaka’s Mohakhali. The exhibition began on Friday and is open to the public. It protests border killings and commemorates Felani Khatun, who was shot dead by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) on January 7, 2011, and whose body was left hanging on the barbed wire for hours. The exhibition features seven selected photographs displayed as floating installations on the lake.

According to the source, nearly 1,400 Bangladeshi civilians have been killed by India’s border guards over the years. Rony worked continuously on this subject between 2012 and 2025, documenting the human cost of violence along the Bangladesh-India frontier. The exhibition serves as both an artistic statement and a call for justice for victims like Felani.

The event highlights ongoing concerns about accountability for cross-border killings and aims to raise public awareness through visual storytelling.

An article by Zakaria Al Hossain, published on January 9, 2026, in *Amar Desh*, explores the life and ideals of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi, portraying him as a symbol of moral courage and Islamic cultural consciousness in Bangladesh. The piece describes Hadi as a man who viewed his life as a moral duty to uphold truth, justice, and faith, rather than a personal pursuit. His martyrdom is presented as a living interpretation of Islamic values rooted in justice, sacrifice, and human dignity.

The author argues that Islamic culture cannot be confined to rituals, music, or literature alone but represents a complete moral and social system guided by divine principles. Hadi’s life is cited as an example of resistance against injustice and moral decay, embodying the ethical backbone of Islamic culture. The article also warns against modern cultural and mental colonialism that threatens to marginalize Islamic ethics and identity.

It concludes by urging Bangladesh, as a Muslim-majority nation, to transform Islamic values into a living cultural force and to honor Hadi’s legacy by embedding moral courage and justice into national life.

Dr. Mohar Ali’s study outlines archaeological and historical evidence of early Muslim presence in Bengal’s coastal areas. Excavations at Paharpur in Rajshahi during 1937–38 uncovered a coin from the Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid dated 788 CE, while two similar coins were found at Mainamati in Comilla. These findings suggest that Arab traders or missionaries reached Bengal by the 8th or 9th century. The mention of the term ‘Tajik’ in a 9th–10th century inscription further supports contact with Arab or Persian merchants.

The article discusses scholarly debates on whether Arab traders established permanent settlements in Bengal. Historical records from Arakan describe a shipwreck around 780–810 CE that led surviving Arabs to settle near Chittagong. Later accounts mention a local leader named Thura-tan, possibly derived from the Arabic ‘Sultan,’ indicating a Muslim colony’s growth. Scholars like Dr. Muhammad Enamul Haq and Dr. M.A. Rahim interpret this as evidence of an early Muslim community rather than a formal kingdom.

The study concludes that Arab merchants likely settled in Chittagong and Noakhali long before Muslim military conquests, with linguistic traces such as the possible Arabic origin of the name ‘Chittagong’ reinforcing this early connection.

The article recounts the story of Habilder Rajab Ali Khan, a key but largely forgotten leader of the 1857 Sepoy Rebellion in Chittagong, southeastern Bengal. On November 18, 1857, Rajab Ali led about 400 soldiers of the 34th Native Bengal Infantry in an armed revolt against British rule. His forces freed imprisoned freedom fighters, seized the treasury and arsenal, and held Chittagong free of British control for nearly 30 hours before retreating toward Tripura and Sylhet. The final battle took place on January 9, 1858, at Malegarh Hill in Karimganj, where around 70 sepoys were killed.

Historians differ on Rajab Ali’s origins and fate. Some accounts suggest he disappeared into the forests of Manipur after the defeat, while others claim he was captured and executed in Chittagong, though no British records confirm this. Despite his strategic leadership and prolonged resistance, Rajab Ali remains overshadowed by figures like Mangal Pandey.

Local historians and residents continue to demand official recognition, including renaming Chittagong’s parade ground after him and adding his biography to textbooks, to restore his place in national history.

After a gap of 34 years, the World Ijtema is being held in West Bengal’s Puinan village under the Dhaniakhali constituency of Hooghly district. The event began on January 2, 2026, and will conclude on January 5 at noon, covering an area of about 60 square kilometers. Millions of devotees from various Indian states and other countries have joined the congregation, with around 10 to 12 lakh people attending Friday prayers.

Local authorities have arranged extensive facilities for the participants, including a temporary 170-bed hospital near the Ijtema grounds, staffed round the clock by doctors and health workers. Dhaniakhali MLA Asima Patra stated that both the administration and local representatives have ensured all necessary arrangements for the visitors and emphasized that the event has no political connection.

Participants such as Kamal Uddin from Biratnagar, Nepal, expressed their devotion, noting that they have attended multiple Ijtemas in different locations to listen to religious teachings.

The National Poetry Council announced that the “National Poetry Festival 2026” will be held on February 1 and 2 in Dhaka under the theme “Poetry will resist anti-cultural arrogance.” The announcement came at a press conference on January 4, 2026, at the National Press Club’s Zahur Hossain Milonayatan, attended by poets Mohon Raihan, Rezauddin Stalin, Manab Surat, Matin Bairagi, Hasan Hafiz, Anamika Haque Lili, and other council leaders. The festival will be inaugurated by Mir Mostafizur Rahman, father of martyred freedom fighter Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho, with Mustafa Sarwar Farooki, adviser to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, as chief guest.

The two-day event will feature seminars, poetry readings, recitations, music, and dance performances with participation from poets, writers, journalists, cultural activists, intellectuals, and political figures from home and abroad. Registration for local and foreign poets opened on January 4, with a fee of 200 taka, and the festival office has been set up at Dhaka University’s TSC swimming pool area.

Speakers at the press conference emphasized the role of poetry in defending democracy, resisting cultural aggression, and promoting artistic expression for the nation.

The 11th edition of the international photography festival ‘Chobi Mela’ will begin in Dhaka on January 16, 2026, as announced at a press conference held at DrikPath Bhaban. Organized jointly by Drik Picture Library and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, the festival will run for 16 days across five venues, including the Bangladesh National Museum, Shilpakala Academy, Alliance Française de Dhaka, DrikPath Bhaban, and the South Plaza of the National Parliament. This year’s theme, ‘Punah’ (meaning ‘again’ or ‘anew’), reflects a spirit of renewal and fresh beginnings. The event will feature nine exhibitions with 58 participants from 18 countries across five continents.

Curators Munem Wasif and Sarker Protick highlighted key exhibitions exploring global conflicts, borders, and identity, including “But a Wound That Fights,” “Rights of Passage,” and “(Un)Learning Palestine.” Other notable displays include solo shows by Alessandra Sanguinetti, Bani Abidi, and Amanul Haque. The festival will also host workshops, public talks, guided tours, and educational outreach involving local schools. Supported by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Cultural Affairs and 16 partner organizations, Chobi Mela will continue until January 31, 2026.

The traditional national cultural organization Saimum Shilpigoshthi held its inaugural class for students admitted to the 2026 session after interviews. The event took place on Friday at Purana Paltan College in Dhaka, with founding member, lyricist, and composer Tafazzal Hossain Khan attending as chief guest. Other guests included advisors, former directors, and artists of the organization, along with students and their guardians.

Speakers highlighted the history of Saimum Shilpigoshthi, describing it as the first cultural organization of the healthy movement that has been promoting morality and positive thinking among children and adolescents since 1978. The director of Saimum provided detailed guidance on the admission process and upcoming training programs.

He also emphasized the role of guardians, noting that Saimum offers training only once a week and that parental involvement is essential for students to develop as good artists. The event concluded with the distribution of ID cards to the students and was conducted by current director Zahidul Islam, with Morshedul Islam serving as moderator.

The national final selection round of the cultural competition 'Serader Sera Season-6', organized by the Somonnito Sangskritik Songshod (SASAS), was successfully completed on Friday at Tejgaon College premises in Dhaka. Participants from eight divisions of Bangladesh competed in three categories—singing, acting, and recitation—after advancing through upazila, district, and divisional levels.

The event aimed to identify talented artists, actors, and reciters from across the country and provide them with a national platform. Out of 300 selected contestants, ten from each category received 'Yes Cards' to move on to the next round, while others were presented with honorary gifts. The program was attended by cultural personality Ustad Tafazzal Hossain Khan as chief guest and former executive director of SASAS Abdullah Al Noman as special guest.

The national-level competition was directed by Zakir Hossain, with overall management by SASAS assistant executive director Israil Hossain Shanto. Guests and judges delivered motivational remarks to the participants before officially concluding the audition round.

The 15th Chapai Festival 2026 will be held in Dhaka on Saturday, January 3, organized by the Chapainawabganj District Association. The daylong event will take place at the Institution of Engineers auditorium in Ramna, aiming to strengthen cultural roots and fraternity among residents from Chapainawabganj living in the capital. The festival will be presided over by Engineer Nurul Islam, Chief Engineer of RAJUK and president of the association, with the chairman of the Land Reform Board attending as a special guest.

According to organizers, the festival’s main attractions include traditional Gambhira performances featuring humorous and contemporary songs, as well as regional food stalls offering Chapai’s famous Kalai Ruti and Mashkalai Dal. Distinguished personalities and meritorious students from the district will also be honored during the event.

General Secretary Advocate Delwar Hossain stated that the festival aims to highlight Chapainawabganj’s history, culture, and potential at the national level while fostering social harmony and unity among expatriate residents of the district.

Renowned Bangladeshi rhymester Sukumar Barua passed away at 6:55 a.m. on Friday at JK Memorial Hospital in Gahira, Raozan upazila of Chattogram. He was 88 years old. His daughter Anjana Barua told the media that he had been hospitalized for a week at a medical center in Chattogram and was later moved to JK Memorial Hospital, where he died while under treatment due to fluid accumulation in his lungs.

Born on January 5, 1938, in Madhyam Binajuri village of Raozan, Barua began his career in the 1960s as a fourth-class employee at the University of Dhaka. He started writing in 1963 while living in a rented house on Topkhana Road and retired in 1999 as a storekeeper from the same university. Over nearly six decades, he became known by titles such as “Chhararaj” and “Chharashilpi” for his humorous and satirical rhymes that often carried moral lessons, patriotic spirit, and political messages.

Barua received the Ekushey Padak in 2017 for his contributions to language and literature, along with several other honors including the Bangla Academy Literary Award and the Bangladesh Shishu Academy Literary Award.

Students of the 104th batch of Dhaka University observed a day-long fasting, prayer, and remembrance program on Thursday, January 1, under the initiative titled 'Monajate Insaf'. The event, held at the TSC area of the campus, honored the memory of Shaheed Osman Hadi and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Participants fasted throughout the day, held a collective Quran recitation after the noon prayer, and performed Salatul Hajat in the afternoon. Later, they visited Osman Hadi’s grave, offered prayers for his and Begum Zia’s souls, and concluded with a communal iftar before Maghrib.

At the prayer gathering, Fatima Tasnim Juma, convener of the Dhaka University branch of Inquilab Monch, delivered a speech emphasizing Osman Hadi’s anti-hegemonic cultural struggle. She said Hadi believed in collective participation across organizations to advance such movements. Juma urged students to uphold national identity through art, literature, and culture, and to intellectually resist any misrepresentation of Bangladesh’s heritage.

She further stressed that cultural expression should reflect the voice and identity of Bangladesh, encouraging creative responses rather than censorship when confronting cultural distortions.

Adilur Rahman Khan, advisor to the Ministries of Industries, Housing and Public Works, and Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, has directed the proper preservation of archaeological sites in Rajoir upazila of Madaripur. He made the directive on Sunday, December 28, after visiting the Khalia Rajaram Temple and speaking to journalists at noon.

Khan said that as part of reviewing ongoing activities of various ministries, several archaeological structures in Rajoir and Madaripur were inspected. He noted that Rajoir has three and Madaripur several more historical sites that urgently need preservation to protect the region’s history and heritage. He added that the district administration is active in this effort, with the deputy commissioner and the LGED secretary already issuing necessary instructions. He emphasized that with local cooperation, the preservation work could be completed smoothly.

Senior officials including LGED Secretary Maksudul Alam, Deputy Commissioner Jahangir Alam, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education) Fatema Azrin Tonni, and Rajoir Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Mahfuzul Haque were present during the visit. The advisor also inspected land offices in Khalia and Kadambari unions and instructed officials to ensure the protection of government establishments.