Kedarnath Majumdar: The forgotten historian of Bengal
5 hour(s) ago
In Focus
Banglay Bidroho: A rare collection of Liberation War paintings
2 April 2026, 16:05 PM
In Focus
Once again the debate over Bengali nationalism
31 March 2026, 12:58 PM
In Focus
Does South Asia need secularism?
30 March 2026, 00:44 AM
In Focus
Did Jinnah lose faith in the Two-Nation Theory after 1947?
26 March 2026, 16:02 PM
In Focus
The black flag at Rajshahi and the officer who chose conscience
26 March 2026, 13:39 PM
In Focus
At Highgate, remembering Karl Marx
22 March 2026, 15:00 PM
In Focus
Celebrating Eid: Thousand years of history in three embraces
21 March 2026, 10:00 AM
In Focus
Historical glimpses of Eid processions in Dhaka
20 March 2026, 10:00 AM
In Focus
The Biryani excavation
19 March 2026, 10:00 AM
In Focus
Anisur Rahman: Farewell to a fellow traveler
Anisur Rahman and I have traveled together across the troubled landscape of Bangladesh’s history over many years. We first came together in October 1957, when we were recruited as teachers by Professor M.N. Huda, then the Chairman of the Economics Department at Dhaka University (DU).
9 March 2025, 18:00 PM
Reclaiming Panthokunjo from spectral wastelands
We live within ecosystems, engaging in mutual interactions. Ecosystems such as rivers, forests, and agricultural lands are shared resources.
2 March 2025, 18:00 PM
Tamam Na Sud
Tamam na sud or ‘Not the end’! There could not have been a better ending of a captivating romantic novel like Shabnami.
24 February 2025, 18:00 PM
Kamruddin Ahmad: A visionary political thinker we must remember
In a quiet neighbourhood of a once lush green residential area of Dhanmondi, I grew up in a three-storied house that dates back to the year 1957, listening wide-eyed to stories of a man deeply involved in Bangladesh’s struggle for sovereignty and democracy.
16 February 2025, 18:00 PM
The Forgotten Revolutionary
All the colonies around the world had to pay the highest price for liberating themselves from the shackles of colonisation. However, not all colonies fared the same as India. Revolutionary activities for India’s independence movement took place on a vast canvas that extended across many parts of the world.
9 February 2025, 18:00 PM
A visionary who elevated Dhaka University to global renown
Satyendra Nath Bose, more widely known as Satyen Bose, devoted 24 of the best years of his life to Dhaka University. On 1 July 1921, Dhaka University commenced its academic activities with only four departments, one of which was Physics. Prior to this, on 1 December 1920, P. J. Hartog assumed office as the university’s first Vice-Chancellor.
2 February 2025, 18:00 PM
H. H. Risley and Bengal, 1873-1911
Sir Herbert Hope Risley (1851-1911) – who signed himself ‘H. H. Risley’ – was a member of the Indian Civil Service (ICS) who became British India’s pre-eminent anthropologist.
26 January 2025, 18:00 PM
Sacrificed for Development
After the creation of Pakistan, the nascent state embarked on vigorous projects to industrialise both parts of the country.
19 January 2025, 18:00 PM
An Untold History of Bengali Migrants in Malaya and Singapore
During the 1980s and 1990s, a new wave of Bangladeshi migrants, comprising mainly unskilled workers, led to a widespread perception of Bengali migrants as itinerant labourers and temporary workers in the Malay Peninsula.
12 January 2025, 18:00 PM
The Tale of Ramna Racecourse
In 1825, Charles Dowes, the then Magistrate of Dhaka, initiated the clearing of the Ramna jungle using prison labour. He enclosed an oval-shaped area with wooden railings and introduced horse racing competitions. From that time, the white colonial officials and residents of Dhaka found a source of recreation at the racecourse.
5 January 2025, 18:00 PM
Growth of National Consciousness
Although the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign state is a fact of recent history, this country has been the home of an ancient civilization.
22 December 2024, 18:00 PM
Wartime treatment: The heroes who saved lives, silently
While the armed freedom fighters fought valiantly on the battlefield during the 1971 war, a quieter yet equally crucial battle was being waged on the medical front.
15 December 2024, 18:00 PM
Gender and Genocide in Bangladesh
History is complicated; simplifying it is the work of politicians. My research on Bangladesh challenges the national memory of the 1971 war, as represented at the Liberation War Museum.
9 December 2024, 18:00 PM
Dreaming about Ladyland
More than a century ago, revered Bengali writer Begum Rokeya in her short story Sultana’s Dream had visualized futuristic inventions like solar cookers, atmospheric water generators and flying air-cars. She dreamt of Ladyland as a feminist utopia without crime, the death penalty and epidemics. Here men were shut indoors and responsible for childcare and household chores, while women with “quicker” brains pursued science and shaped inventions.
3 December 2024, 18:00 PM
The Faces behind ‘Made in Bangladesh’
In a conversation with Lamia Karim, professor of anthropology at the University of Oregon, Eugene, about her research on Bangladesh's RMG workers.
24 November 2024, 18:00 PM
The Journey of British-Bengali Women in Higher Education
In recent years, British-Bengali women have made significant strides in higher education, challenging stereotypes and overcoming systemic barriers. Drawing on in-depth interviews, this article delves into their journey, highlighting the challenges and achievements of these young women as they navigate their way through university and beyond.
17 November 2024, 18:00 PM
Remembering a legacy of opposition, a vision of independence
After the liberation of Bangladesh, Bhashani continued to exert significant influence by holding the ruling Awami League accountable on critical issues such as drafting the constitution and addressing the food crisis.
17 November 2024, 02:00 AM
The Last Romantic
In 1961, the Arts Faculty of the University of Dhaka was still located at the southern end of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. It was there, under the high-ceilinged rooms with their antique benches that Dr Khan Sarwar Murshid taught the MA English Preliminary students.
10 November 2024, 18:00 PM
Blood on the Barred Walls: The 1975 Jail Killing Revisited
In 1975, Bangladesh’s political landscape was irrevocably altered by the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and almost his entire family (except for his two daughters, who were abroad) at their Dhanmondi 32 residence.
2 November 2024, 18:00 PM
From Sultanate to Mughal: The Architectural Legacy of Bengal
In conversation with Professor Perween Hasan, distinguished historian and expert on architecture of the Indian subcontinent
27 October 2024, 18:00 PM