Television viewership in Mymensingh has been steadily declining as mobile phones and social media platforms become the dominant sources of news and entertainment. Local cable operators report a significant drop in dish connections, with many households canceling their subscriptions. Some residents now use their television sets only as CCTV monitors rather than for watching programs.

Retailers and media professionals in the city note that television sales have fallen sharply, as people increasingly rely on smartphones for short-form videos, news, and entertainment. Viewers also express dissatisfaction with the perceived lack of reliable and objective news on television, claiming that political bias has eroded trust in traditional channels. As a result, audiences are turning to online content and social media for real-time updates.

Analysts and cultural workers warn that unless television content improves in quality and relevance, the medium may continue to lose its audience. They emphasize the need for creative, factual, and socially meaningful programming to restore public confidence and engagement.

Former cultural affairs adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has criticized what he calls 'selective inclusion' and biased historical narratives in Bangladesh’s cultural sphere. In a verified Facebook post, he said the country’s arts, literature, and cinema have long been shaped around a specific political narrative, leaving many significant political and historical events underrepresented. He questioned why major figures and episodes such as General Osmani’s absence at the surrender ceremony, Maulana Bhashani’s political role, or the actions of the Rakkhi Bahini have not been adequately portrayed in mainstream creative works.

Farooki argued that issues like enforced disappearances, political violence, and oppression have not inspired strong fictional works in Bangladesh, unlike in Latin America. He attributed this to a cultural framing that deems certain topics as unacceptable or unprogressive, discouraging artists through social labeling and funding barriers. He also claimed that a division between 'high' and 'low' culture has portrayed one political group as progressive and others as regressive, allowing 'fascism' to persist socially.

Farooki described the political changes of 2024 as the beginning of a cultural shift and said he left a detailed 'note to successor' outlining recommendations for reforming the cultural ecosystem.

July Records, an organization founded in late December 2024, is working to preserve the memories and experiences of families of martyrs, injured individuals, and eyewitnesses of the July Revolution. Led by Chairman Kazi Wali Ullah, General Secretary Sulaim Mahmud, and Treasurer Sanjidul Alam Sagar, the group began its journey in Anwara, Chattogram, by interviewing an injured participant. It has since expanded its work nationwide, collecting testimonies that capture both historical facts and emotional narratives.

The team conducts two to three field trips each month, recording interviews primarily with mobile phones and microphones. They focus on the interviewees’ lives before and after the movement, emotional experiences, and detailed accounts of events. So far, July Records has gathered over 200 interviews and published 17 selected ones in a book titled “July Boyan,” which highlights stories of sacrifice and resilience, including those of martyr Nur Mostafa and worker martyr Mohammad Faruk.

Despite limited resources, July Records’ documentation efforts are being recognized as a significant contribution to preserving Bangladesh’s history of mass movements for future generations.

Saudi Arabia has introduced a women’s category for the first time in the prestigious King Abdulaziz International Quran Memorization, Recitation, and Interpretation Competition. The 46th edition of the event, held annually at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, will now officially include female participants. King Salman bin Abdulaziz approved the decision following a proposal from the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdulaziz, according to the Saudi Press Agency report published on May 10.

The competition, launched in 1979, is regarded as one of the Muslim world’s most respected Quranic events. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs described the inclusion of women as a major milestone in the contest’s history, emphasizing that it opens the international platform equally to both male and female Quran scholars.

The closing ceremony of this year’s competition is scheduled for August 19.

A feature published on May 12, 2026, explores the children’s literature of Kazi Nazrul Islam, Bangladesh’s national poet. Known primarily as the ‘Rebel Poet,’ Nazrul wrote extensively for readers of all ages, including numerous poems for children. The article revisits several of his beloved works such as ‘Prabhati,’ ‘Khoka’r Shadh,’ ‘Lichu Chor,’ ‘Khuki o Kathberali,’ and ‘Khoka’r Buddhi,’ illustrating his playful imagination and emotional depth. His poems often depict the innocence of childhood, the bond between mother and child, and the beauty of nature.

The article notes that Nazrul’s childlike spirit and creative versatility made his works enduringly popular among young readers. Some of his poems, including ‘Prabhati’ and ‘Khoka’r Shadh,’ have been included in primary school curricula. Through humor, rhythm, and vivid imagery, Nazrul enriched Bangla literature and inspired generations of children to appreciate poetry.

The feature concludes by reaffirming Nazrul Islam’s place as one of the foremost figures who shaped and elevated Bangla literary heritage.

Renowned Bangladeshi actor, playwright, and stage director Ataur Rahman passed away late Monday night in Dhaka after being on life support for ten days. The news was confirmed by actor Raonak Hasan. Rahman, a recipient of the Independence Award, had been under treatment at a hospital in the capital when he died.

According to reports, Ataur Rahman’s health deteriorated after he fell at home the previous Friday. He was first taken to a hospital in Gulshan but later transferred to another in Dhanmondi due to the unavailability of ICU facilities. Although his condition briefly improved, he was again placed on life support on Sunday as his health worsened. He is survived by his wife, one daughter, and one son.

Born on June 18, 1941, in Noakhali, Rahman was a leading figure in Bangladesh’s post-independence theatre movement. He was widely respected for his contributions to the country’s cultural and theatrical landscape and was honored with both the Ekushey Padak and the Independence Award.

An article by Imran Hossain Naim, published on May 11, 2026, examines how Western scholarship has shaped and limited the understanding of Ibn Khaldun, the 14th-century Muslim thinker and author of the 'Muqaddimah'. The writer argues that most readers encounter Ibn Khaldun through European interpretations rather than his original Arabic text, creating a gap between the authentic and the constructed versions of his thought. This gap, the article notes, stems from ignorance of Arabic, Eurocentrism, and the tension between modernity and religion.

The essay traces how Ibn Khaldun’s intellectual legacy was preserved and studied primarily in the West, while his birthplace in the Muslim world neglected institutional study of his works. It highlights how Orientalist scholars explored Ibn Khaldun for their own academic and political purposes, often filtering his ideas through Western theoretical lenses. The author cites scholars who note that Western academia tends to universalize European theories while marginalizing non-Western thinkers.

The piece concludes that Western discomfort with Ibn Khaldun’s religious identity reflects a broader hesitation to reconcile faith and science, revealing the persistent Eurocentric bias in global intellectual traditions.

The World Literature Center has announced plans to organize 200 mobile book fairs across Bangladesh by 2027, with support from the MetLife Foundation. The initiative aims to promote cultural engagement and reading habits among people throughout the country. The fairs will travel to district towns, offering visitors access to a wide range of books and opportunities to purchase their preferred titles.

In addition to book displays, the fairs will host cultural activities designed to foster interest in literature and education. Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, founder and president of the World Literature Center, emphasized that a nation’s true progress lies in its love for books, noting that the mobile fairs will make quality reading materials more accessible and encourage curiosity and critical thinking. MetLife Bangladesh CEO Ala Ahmad expressed satisfaction in partnering again with the center to promote culture and reading nationwide.

This marks the second consecutive year of collaboration between the two organizations. In 2025, they jointly organized more than 128 mobile book fairs that attracted over 200,000 visitors.

A poem published on May 9, 2026, by Mosharraf Hossain Khan in the outlet 'Amar Desh' evokes the events of a night at Dhaka’s Shapla Chattar, referring to it as a planned massacre. The poet repeatedly demands to know how many bullets were fired, how many people were killed, and where the bodies were hidden, portraying the night as terrifying and gruesome.

The poem draws a parallel between the alleged killings of May 5 and the 1971 genocide of March 25, questioning whether the former was even more horrific. It expresses the author’s moral and civic right to know the truth, as a citizen whose taxes fund the state’s actions. Through vivid imagery of bullets, bulldozers, and rivers bearing witness, the poet calls for accountability and remembrance of those who died.

The piece concludes with a symbolic vision of the victims becoming stars standing against their killers, reinforcing the demand for truth and justice surrounding the Shapla Chattar events.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President and Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir’s Central International Secretary Sadiq Kayem is set to get married on May 13. His bride-to-be, Anika Forayezi, is an MBBS doctor from Porikot village in Gunabati Union, Chauddagram, Comilla. The marriage ceremony (akd) will take place at Dhaka University’s Central Mosque, confirmed her father Ayub Ali Forayezi, who is the Vice Chairman of Reliance Group and Chairman of Probashi Bangla Properties Limited.

The akd will be attended by DUCSU leaders and students, and a main reception is planned later at a convention center in Dhaka. The news of the DUCSU VP’s marriage has already drawn wide attention on social media, particularly after a wedding card image circulated online.

Comilla City Chhatra Shibir President Hasan Ahmed expressed joy over the marriage, calling it a proud moment for Comilla residents. Chauddagram Upazila Jamaat Amir Muhammad Mahfuzur Rahman said the guest list for the Dhaka reception will be finalized soon.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Rabindranath Tagore was not only a poet but also a philosopher. He made the remarks on Friday at Patishar in Naogaon while addressing a program marking the 165th birth anniversary of the world poet. Fakhrul described Tagore as a creative personality whose works span all branches of literature and said that those who label him as communal lack understanding.

He highlighted that Tagore had initiated agricultural bank activities in Patishar to improve the lives of farmers and introduced modern agricultural concepts. Fakhrul added that the current government continues to work for the development of agriculture and farmers in line with Tagore’s vision. The event was organized by the Naogaon district administration with support from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and chaired by Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Dr. A N M Bazlur Rashid.

The program included speeches from several ministers and cultural performances by artists from local Shilpakala Academies. The Patishar area took on a festive atmosphere as visitors and Rabindra enthusiasts gathered to celebrate the poet’s birth anniversary.

Bangladesh Khelafat Chhatra Majlis is organizing a documentary and document-based exhibition centered on the events of May 5, 2013, at Shapla Chattar. The exhibition will be held for the first time on May 5 and 6 at the Nalini Kanta Bhattasali Exhibition Gallery of the Bangladesh National Museum in Dhaka. It will feature photographs, eyewitness accounts, official documents, news reports, and memorials of those who lost their lives. The program will also include a documentary screening and a short discussion session.

According to the organizers, the exhibition will be inaugurated at 3 p.m. on May 5 by Maulana Muhammad Mamunul Haque, Amir of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis. Other attendees will include Member of Parliament Mufti Mohammadullah, NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, NCP chief coordinator Nasir Uddin Patwari, and Inqilab Monch member secretary Abdullah Jaber. Families of victims and injured individuals are also expected to attend the opening ceremony.

The event marks the first organized effort by the group to publicly present documentary evidence and testimonies related to the 2013 Shapla Chattar incident.

Renowned Bangladeshi poet and freedom fighter Al Mujahidi has been undergoing treatment for several days at United Hospital in Dhaka due to serious illness. On Sunday evening, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Porwar visited him at the hospital to inquire about his health condition.

During the visit, Porwar was accompanied by Advocate Matiur Rahman Akand, head of Jamaat’s literature and culture department, and Dr. Monowarul Islam, secretary of the Deshiyo Sangskritik Sangshad, along with other cultural figures. He spoke with the attending doctors to learn about the poet’s treatment progress and prayed for his quick recovery, long life, and good health. Porwar praised Al Mujahidi’s contributions to the nation’s literary field and urged the government to arrange advanced medical care abroad for the poet.

He also met with members of the poet’s family, offering words of comfort and advising them to remain patient and hopeful. Before leaving, he requested everyone to pray for Al Mujahidi’s recovery.

Bangladesh Khelafat Chhatra Majlis has announced that it will organize the first-ever exhibition based on the events of May 5, 2013, at Shapla Chattar. The exhibition, titled 'Shapla Massacre', will take place on May 5 and 6 at the Nalinikanta Bhattasali Exhibition Gallery of the Bangladesh National Museum in Dhaka. It will feature photographs, eyewitness accounts, official documents, news reports, and tributes to those who lost their lives.

The event will also include a documentary screening and a brief discussion session. The exhibition will be inaugurated at 3 p.m. on May 5 by Maulana Muhammad Mamunul Haque, Amir of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis. Family members of the deceased and injured individuals are expected to attend the opening ceremony.

According to the organizers, the exhibition aims to document and present the historical events surrounding the 2013 Shapla Chattar incident through verified materials and testimonies.

The Chandamari Mosque, located in Chandamari Mondolpara village of Rajarhat upazila in Kurigram, is a more than 400-year-old architectural and cultural landmark. Built with lime, brick, and surki, the mosque features three large domes, four corner minarets, and intricate designs that reflect a blend of Sultanate and Mughal styles. Despite changes in the surrounding environment, the mosque remains a central part of local religious and social life, drawing worshippers especially during Friday prayers and Ramadan.

Historical accounts suggest the mosque was constructed between 1584 and 1680, though no inscription confirms the exact date. Locals compare its design to the Babri Mosque in India and the Sixty Dome Mosque in Bagerhat, noting its unique craftsmanship and durability. Elderly residents recall generations of worshippers attending prayers there, and stories persist about the mosque’s enduring structure built without iron rods.

Local heritage advocates emphasize the need for preservation, as parts of the plaster have begun to deteriorate. They believe proper conservation could secure the mosque’s place as one of Kurigram’s most significant historical monuments for future generations.