Once upon a time there was a green, fertile land ruled by a Queen who loved nothing more than dressing herself up and collecting gold. Though the common people were poor and the Queen was a bit greedy, still they were happy.

“We are better than animals because we have kinsmen. An animal rubs its itching flank against a tree, a man asks his kinsman to scratch him.” ― Chinua Achebe.

ABOUT the book and the study: The book contains the findings of an in-deep study into the Local Governance and Decentralization with an analytical approach and perspective of politics and economics, distribution of power and wealth and overall governance of the local system.

SYLHETER Sahittyo: Srosta O Sristi (Literature of Sylhet: Writers & their works) is a voluminous book by Professor Nandalal Sharma that covers a span of over one hundred years to enlighten the readers with adequate information about the authors, poets, essayists and educationists of greater Sylhet (Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj and Sunamgonj). It's a compendious anthology illustrating the biographies and prominent creations of the litterateurs of Sylhet division which have been generated and published over last more than one century.

A meticulous compilation of 100 stories centering the Bangladesh War of Liberation has been done by Litterateur Hosne Ara Shahed in two volumes. Each volume contains 50 stories of renowned writers of the country. Shuchipatra has published the two volumes, which are available in Ekushe Boi Mela. The price of each volume is Tk. 700.00

Men are not rivers, yet in their hearts Burns the raging thirst of rivers.

Come, let us wrest our liberty, The liberty to speak, The liberty to place one letter to the right of another And make up words,

A long time ago, when BTV was the only channel available, I remember watching a drama where some teenagers were planning a picnic on 21st February. They had been given the day off from college and decided to take advantage of the beautiful spring weather. Overhearing these plans, their politically conscious uncle gave them a stern scolding and told them to go read their history books. Shame-facedly, they walked away. The story ended.

I have not come, where they laid down their lives Under the Krishnachura trees...

Such a wonderful day today, Nobody laments for the dead, none Fears death's grim face. A strange gleam Lights the weary body and face; in each footstep The glittering light of determination is aglow.

All the people got united in a second, They anointed their sinews, ribs and muscles With a new-born pledge.

Supriyo, my son, is too small To understand anything;

CONSIDER these lines, as quotations or as a paraphrase: “Bengali Muslims of East Bengal/Pakistan were a vitally important audience for the Bengali film industry of Calcutta during the “golden age” of this industry (that is, from the 1930s to the 1950s).”

PAULO Coelho is currently the best-known Brazilian novelist. His novels The Alchemist, The Fifth Mountain, Eleven Minutes, Veronika Decides to Die, Brida have ornamented his profile with eminence and glory. Some of his non-fictional books are highly acclaimed too like Confessions of a Pilgrim and Manual of the Warrior of Light. This illustrious author came up with a catchy tale of despair, lust and sin in 2014 that sparked off considerable degree of sensation among readers and critics in the wake of its publication. The novel's title is Adultery which is suggestive enough to help readers prognosticate its thematic points. Linda, the Swiss narrator of this novel introduces herself as a woman who apparently seems complacent with everything she possesses. In her 30s, Linda has quite a well-off husband who loves her.

PROFESSOR Nizam Ahmed, a teacher of Chittagong University, has continuously been carrying out research on the functions of our Jatiya Sangsad. His latest book "The Bangladesh Parliament: A Data Handbook" is an excellent and massive research work. This timely handbook provides insights into understanding the functions of Parliament as an institution. It covers nine parliaments constituted in between the period 1973-2011.