In a commentary published on January 16, 2026, writer and PIB Director General Faruk Wasif argued for the adoption of a concept he calls 'Bangladeshpantha'—a philosophy rooted in the shared cultural, social, and historical traits of the Bangladeshi people. He described Bangladesh as a society of deep communal intersections where religion, language, and ethnicity blend into a collective identity. Wasif highlighted that this unity, built over centuries through agricultural and social cooperation, has made Bangladesh less affected by caste or racial divisions compared to its neighbors.

He traced this inclusive spirit to the Sultani era, folk traditions, and the Liberation War, emphasizing that Bangladesh’s identity is shaped by compassion, cooperation, and a balance between faith and humanism. According to Wasif, 'Bangladeshpantha' represents a positive, non-antagonistic nationalism that avoids anti-foreign or sectarian politics. Instead, it seeks harmony between culture and politics, portraying Bangladesh as a cooperative society rather than a fragmented multicultural one.

Wasif concluded that this collective ethos—embodied in shared customs, festivals, and social practices—should guide the nation’s political and cultural direction in the future.

The demolition of the historic Chhoto Rajbari, known locally as the Zamindar House, in Maghia Union of Kachua upazila, Bagerhat, has been stopped following the intervention of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO). The building, located on private land and considered old and risky, was being dismantled when the matter drew public attention through social media posts. Acting on the directive of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the upazila administration visited the site on January 14 and requested the owners to suspend demolition until further government instructions.

According to the report, an application to preserve the structure as an archaeological heritage site has already been submitted to the Department of Archaeology. The current owners stated they were unaware of this application and claimed legal ownership of the land, which they had sold due to the building’s fragile condition. The UNO confirmed that the site has historical significance and that all activities potentially damaging to the structure have been ordered to stop.

Authorities have instructed all concerned parties to suspend any construction or demolition work until official decisions are made regarding the building’s heritage status.

Louise Adler, director of Adelaide Writers’ Week, resigned on Tuesday after the festival’s board cancelled the participation of Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah. The decision sparked widespread backlash, with former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and many writers and guests boycotting the event. According to local media, around 180 artists and participants have withdrawn their names from the festival.

Adler said she resigned in protest against what she described as extreme and repressive pressure from pro-Israel lobbies. In an open letter published in The Guardian, she wrote that art is being labeled as unsafe and artists are being portrayed as threats to society. She argued that repeated references to “security” were being used to suppress dissent and that such reasoning was applied only to the Palestinian invitee.

The festival board stated that its decision followed the December 14 Bondi Beach shooting at a Jewish festival that left 15 people dead. Abdel-Fattah condemned the move as blatant anti-Palestinian racism and called attempts to link her to the violence “vile and baseless.”

The Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and the Bangladesh Young Column Writers’ Forum, Dhaka University branch, will jointly organize the Shaheed Osman Hadi Memorial Book Fair 2026. The five-day event will take place from January 18 to 22 at the TSC Payra Chattar on the university campus, remaining open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The fair will be inaugurated by Omar Bin Hadi, brother of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi, with Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Khan attending as chief guest.

The announcement was made at a press conference held in front of Madhur Canteen, where Forum President Ashiq Khan stated that the fair aims to highlight the life and ideals of Shaheed Osman Hadi, portraying him as a symbol of protest and resistance against oppression. The event will feature stalls from various publishers, memorial sessions, discussions, seminars, and interactive programs involving young writers and readers.

Organizers said the fair seeks to promote books as tools of free thought and resistance and will be held annually as a platform for cultural and intellectual exchange.

The High Court of Bangladesh has ruled that a Muslim man no longer needs his wife's consent to enter into a second marriage. The decision came in response to a petition concerning the Muslim Family Law, with the court clarifying that approval from the Arbitration Council, not the first wife, is the determining factor for a lawful second marriage.

Previously, it was widely practiced that a husband required his first wife's permission before remarrying. The court stated that no such direct obligation exists in the Muslim Family Law. The 24-page verdict explained that the authority to approve a second marriage lies with the Arbitration Council, making spousal consent non-mandatory. Historically, under Section 494 of the Penal Code of 1860, marrying again without spousal consent carried a seven-year prison term, later revised in 1961 to require council approval instead.

Petitioners have announced plans to appeal, arguing that the ruling could weaken regulations on polygamy. Sociologists warned that misuse of multiple marriages could increase inequality and family instability, urging final resolution by the Supreme Court.

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.