Following the cancellation of Afsana Begum’s appointment as director of Bangladesh’s National Book Centre, a heated debate has emerged within the country’s cultural and literary circles. The article alleges that a group of pro-Awami League and left-leaning cultural figures have strongly criticized the Ministry of Culture and adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, while Afsana herself publicly defended her position and condemned the decision to revoke her appointment.

The report claims that the National Book Centre’s book selection committee for the 2024–25 fiscal year displayed conflicts of interest, with some committee members including their own works in the purchase list. It further alleges that the list favored writers and publishers aligned with a particular ideological group, while excluding authors critical of past Awami League governments or supportive of the July uprising. The article also links Afsana’s appointment to recommendations from individuals associated with the newspaper Prothom Alo.

The author argues that the controversy exposes entrenched favoritism and ideological bias in state-funded cultural institutions, raising concerns about transparency and inclusivity in Bangladesh’s literary policy.

The month-long Jatra Registration Festival, organized by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and managed by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, concluded on January 23, 2026, with the staging of the historical Jatra play ‘General Osmani’. The play was performed at the Experimental Theatre Hall of the Academy by its repertory Jatra unit. Written by M A Majid and directed by Tanvir Nahid Khan, the production focused on the leadership, strategy, and uncompromising patriotism of Colonel M A G Osmani, the Commander-in-Chief of the Liberation War. The closing ceremony was attended by Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki as chief guest, with Secretary Md. Mofidur Rahman and Director General Sheikh Rezauddin Ahmed also present.

The festival, which began on December 1, 2025, featured 36 Jatra performances by 35 registered troupes from across the country. Veteran Jatra artist Anwar Hossain received a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to the art form. Farooki noted that ‘General Osmani’ was created within seven days and will be staged in all 64 districts in March 2026, marking a renewed focus on national stories in traditional Jatra performances.

Ticket proceeds from the festival were distributed to participating troupes, and each performance was evaluated by a jury panel.

An article by Abu Sayed Kamal, published on January 24, 2026, examines how authoritarian regimes in Bangladesh—particularly military and one-party rule—have historically imposed hegemonic and fascist control over literature. It argues that state power shaped literary institutions, reader preferences, and creative expression by promoting certain narratives as national or mainstream while marginalizing dissenting voices. The essay defines literary hegemony as cultural dominance through consent and fascism as its coercive extension using censorship, fear, and exclusion.

The piece traces how state patronage turned literature into a political tool, rewarding loyal writers and sidelining critical or progressive ones. It notes that suppression led to self-censorship, creative contraction, and the marginalization of working-class, female, and ethnic minority voices. Yet, resistance literature emerged through little magazines, underground circles, and symbolic writing.

Kamal highlights the July 2024 uprising as a cultural turning point that challenged entrenched literary authority, revived marginalized voices, and redefined writers’ moral responsibility. The essay concludes that true literary freedom depends on sustaining decentralized, people-centered creative practices beyond state control.

Writer Gazi Giyas Uddin’s article revisits researcher Abdul Mannan Syed’s analysis of the Bengali Muslim literary awakening. Syed argued that British colonial rule erased the memory of Muslims’ major role in medieval Bengali literature. He noted that after the 1947 Partition, Dhaka transformed into the new capital of Bengali literature and culture, marking an unprecedented cultural resurgence. The 1952 Language Movement further deepened this awakening across poetry, prose, art, and music, giving modern Bengali literature a distinctive national identity.

Syed traced this revival through key figures and institutions such as Nawab Abdul Latif’s Mohammedan Literary Society (1863), Syed Ameer Ali’s National Mohammedan Association (1878), and the Bangiya Mussalman Sahitya Samiti (1911). He credited journals like Bangiya Mussalman Sahitya Patrika and Saugat for nurturing writers including Kazi Nazrul Islam. Syed emphasized that despite a shared language, East Bengal’s literature developed its own character, shaped by Muslim intellectual and social movements.

He also lamented the exclusion of Muslim writers from major anthologies and reaffirmed Nazrul’s place among the four greatest modern Bengali poets, alongside Michael Madhusudan Dutt, Rabindranath Tagore, and Jibanananda Das.

Dhaka University came alive on Friday as students and faculty celebrated Saraswati Puja, honoring the Hindu goddess of knowledge, wisdom, and creativity. The annual festival, centered at Jagannath Hall, featured 76 pavilions where offerings, prayers, and rituals were performed from the morning. Of these, 74 were built by different departments and institutes, while two were organized by the hall administration.

Each pavilion reflected unique themes and artistic expression. The Finance Department highlighted the vastness of the universe through lights and designs, while the English Department decorated its pavilion with hand-painted artwork. The central idol, placed in the pond at Jagannath Hall and crafted by Fine Arts students, drew special attention for its aesthetic appeal. The Department of Mass Communication and Journalism stood out with a pavilion symbolizing burned media outlets, protesting recent arson attacks on two major news organizations. Students said their theme, “Mobocracy,” called for peace and justice.

Hall Provost Professor Debashish Pal explained that, unlike previous years, no pre-festival press conference was held due to time constraints, though information was shared through notices and billboards.

The Musa Khan Mosque, located within Dhaka University’s Shahidullah Hall area, is one of the earliest examples of a residential madrasa-mosque built in the Mughal period. The structure, believed to have been constructed in the late 17th century under Shaista Khan’s architectural style, features an upper floor for prayer and teaching and a lower level once used as student dormitories. Historians differ on whether it was built by Musa Khan, the son of Isa Khan and a leader of the Baro Bhuiyans, or by his son Monowar Khan.

The mosque’s design includes three domes, arched entrances, and corner minarets, reflecting Shaistakhani architecture similar to the nearby Khwaja Shahbaz Mosque. Once surrounded by boundary walls, the site is now hemmed in by modern buildings that block natural light. Despite being under the Department of Archaeology’s care, the mosque suffers from dampness, peeling plaster, and structural decay.

The adjacent grave of Musa Khan, a key figure in Bengal’s anti-Mughal resistance, remains neglected and unmarked. The report calls for urgent restoration to preserve this significant monument of Dhaka’s early educational and architectural heritage.

Dr. Mohar Ali’s article discusses archaeological and linguistic evidence indicating that Arab Muslims settled in parts of Bengal, particularly Chattogram and Noakhali, long before the Muslim political conquest of the region. The study highlights the heavy Arabic influence in the local dialects, where nearly half of the Chattogram vocabulary is derived from Arabic. This linguistic and cultural integration, according to historians, points to long-term Arab presence rather than brief trade interactions.

The article references historical records showing that by the 16th century, Chattogram was a prosperous port city inhabited by wealthy Arab, Persian, and Abyssinian Muslim merchants. It also cites early Islamic preachers and Sufi saints believed to have arrived in Bengal before the 15th century, some possibly by sea. Historical texts such as Minhajuddin Siraj’s “Tabaqat-i-Nasiri” further suggest that Muslim traders and missionaries were familiar figures in Bengal before Bakhtiyar Khilji’s conquest.

These findings collectively indicate that Arab Muslim traders and preachers established early settlements in coastal Bengal, leaving lasting linguistic and cultural imprints that predated formal Muslim rule.

Bangladeshi publishers will not be allowed to participate in this year’s Kolkata International Book Fair, marking the second consecutive year without a Bangladesh pavilion. The organizers, Publishers and Booksellers Guild, confirmed that although Bangladesh expressed interest in joining, the guild declined their participation. The decision reportedly stems from the absence of clearance from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, which is required due to current India-Bangladesh relations.

According to Guild General Secretary Tridib Chatterjee, the guild cannot permit Bangladesh’s participation without the ministry’s approval. The Bangladeshi Deputy High Commission in Kolkata also confirmed that interest in joining had been conveyed. Chatterjee added that while Bangladesh will not have an official presence, individual stalls may still display Bangladeshi books without objection.

The United States will also miss this year’s fair due to budget allocation issues. For the first time, Ukraine will participate, and China will return after 15 years. Argentina is the theme country, with a total of 21 nations and over a thousand local and Indian publishers taking part.

A five-day Shaheed Osman Hadi Memorial Book Fair began at Dhaka University with large crowds from the first day. Visitors and students gathered at the TSC premises to browse books, purchase works by favorite authors, and learn about the life and ideals of Shaheed Osman Hadi. The fair features 22 publishing houses with stalls around the TSC’s Pigeon Square, where visitors were seen reading, bargaining, and taking photographs. Cultural performances including recitations, songs, and discussions are being held on a dedicated stage.

The event is jointly organized by the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and the Dhaka University Young Columnists’ Forum, with support from Aurora Specialized Hospital Limited. The fair was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Khan. It remains open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and includes cultural programs and discussions commemorating Osman Hadi. DUCSU Vice President Sadiq Kayem and Writers’ Forum President Ashiq Khan said the fair aims to inspire the new generation through Hadi’s ideals and to promote books as tools of free thought and resistance.

Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman stated that success in political struggles requires victory in cultural battles. He made the remark on Monday at 3 p.m. while presiding over the prize distribution ceremony of the Amar Desh Readers’ Fair creative competition held at the Syed Waliullah Auditorium of Bangla Academy in Dhaka. The event was attended by cultural affairs adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki as the chief guest.

Rahman emphasized that the younger generation is now aware of the ongoing cultural struggle and is resisting attempts to impose alien cultures during authoritarian regimes. He said efforts are underway to build a historically conscious and culturally aware nation. Chief guest Farooki discussed the coexistence of high and low culture, stressing that both must be preserved to ensure justice and fairness in Bangladesh. He also mentioned that the Ministry of Cultural Affairs has produced several documentaries on July-related themes.

Amar Desh executive editor Syed Abdal Ahmed highlighted the 1974 famine, attributing much of it to administrative failures, and urged the youth to engage in creative initiatives and read more books.

Daily Amar Desh has launched a new YouTube channel titled “Amar Desh Oitijjho” to showcase Bangladesh’s history and heritage. The inauguration took place on Monday afternoon at the newspaper’s headquarters conference room, led by Editor Mahmudur Rahman. The initiative follows the earlier success of the paper’s first YouTube channel, “Daily Amar Desh,” which gained significant viewer support within a year.

During the launch, Mahmudur Rahman explained that the new channel aims to go beyond political news by focusing on cultural, historical, and religious themes. He described Amar Desh as not only a news outlet but also a platform for asserting the identity of Bengali Muslims. To strengthen that mission, he emphasized the need to revisit both Bengal’s and the broader Muslim world’s history.

The editor added that “Amar Desh Oitijjho” will feature content on history, religious thought, values, literary analysis, and cultural aspects. Several senior editors and staff members of the newspaper were present at the event.

The Shaheed Osman Hadi Memorial Book Fair began on Sunday at the Dhaka University Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) premises. The five-day event, jointly organized by the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and the Dhaka University Young Columnist Forum, was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Khan. Aurora Specialized Hospital Limited is supporting the fair, which features 22 participating publishing houses and will remain open to all from January 18 to 22, daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Alongside the fair, cultural programs and discussion sessions have been arranged to commemorate Shaheed Osman Hadi.

During the inauguration, DUCSU Vice President Sadiq Kayem presided over the event, conducted by Abid Hasan Rafi, General Secretary of the Young Columnist Forum. Several guests, including university officials and forum leaders, attended. In his speech, the Vice-Chancellor said such initiatives strengthen social bonds and called for justice in Osman Hadi’s killing. Speakers highlighted Hadi’s ideals of justice and resistance against oppression, emphasizing the fair’s goal to inspire the new generation through reading and critical thought.

The opening day saw a large turnout of students across the fairgrounds.

A nearly 900-year-old madrasa has been discovered in the central Turkish city of Kayseri during ongoing urban renewal work. The structure was found south of the city’s historic Grand Mosque, near the tomb of Malik Muhammad Ghazi. The finding was reported on Thursday by the Turkish news agency Anadolu. Kayseri Mayor Memduh Büyükkılıç said the city holds traces of various civilizations and has a significant place in the history of Islam in Anatolia.

According to the mayor, the discovery was made while carefully clearing the area, revealing traces of a religious educational structure built in the traditional style. Malik Muhammad Ghazi, a ruler from the Danishmend dynasty, is regarded as the founder of Kayseri and an important figure in early Turkish Islamic history in Anatolia.

Mayor Büyükkılıç added that the search and excavation work will continue and that the municipality plans to coordinate with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for restoration efforts.

During the tenure of the fallen Awami government, Bangladesh’s creative publishing sector reportedly faced severe corruption and mismanagement. Numerous projects, including Mujib birth centenary and Bangabandhu-Muktijuddho corners, were created across ministries and institutions, allegedly leading to large-scale embezzlement of public funds. Publishers close to the ruling party were accused of receiving work orders for low-quality books glorifying the Mujib family and distorting history, while dissenting publishers were systematically excluded. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs secretary acknowledged that significant government funds were spent on such books, though they are no longer displayed or sold.

Publishers’ associations and industry leaders claimed that a politically connected syndicate dominated government book procurement, exploiting programs like the Secondary Education Development Program (SEDP) and other ministry projects to secure contracts worth hundreds of crores of taka. They demanded investigations and support for affected publishers. Several named publishers denied wrongdoing, asserting that all purchases followed official procedures. The controversy has left the creative publishing industry weakened and calls for reform and accountability continue.

Samsul Alam has been appointed as the director and Imran Hasan as the assistant director of Rajshahi University’s literary and cultural organization, Bikalpo Sahitya Sangskritik Sangsad. The announcement was made on Thursday during an artists’ gathering organized by the group. The new leadership was declared by H M Abu Musa, executive director of Samonnito Sangskritik Sangsad (SASAS), along with Bikalpo chairman Mujahid Faisal and outgoing director Ahmed Raihan.

According to the report, Samsul Alam is a master’s student in the Department of History, while Imran Hasan is a third-year student in the Department of Arabic. Change TV director Amirul Momenin Manik congratulated the newly appointed committee and expressed hope that the new leadership would play a leading role in promoting a healthy and progressive cultural environment at Rajshahi University.

The leadership transition marks a continuation of student-led cultural activities at the university, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to fostering creativity and progressive values among students.