Beyond stereotypes: Rupert Grey’s ‘Homage to Bangladesh’

Rupert Grey, a descendant of Charles Grey and best known professionally as a leading libel and copyright lawyer stood against this statement. “If Bangladesh is a basket case,” Grey tells The Daily Star, “then it is so in the best possible way.” For him, the term collapses under the sheer vitality of the country. A single square metre of a Bangladeshi street, he argues, holds more energy than entire neighbourhoods in London. Where life in England often unfolds in rigid routines, Bangladesh thrives in spontaneity—where a hanging lighter at a tea stall can become a moment of shared choreography.
25 January 2026, 12:24 PM Books & Literature
FLASH FICTION / The rickshaw artist
24 January 2026, 01:52 AM Books & Literature
FLASH FICTION / Pirouette of a phoenix
24 January 2026, 01:48 AM Books & Literature
POETRY / Memories
24 January 2026, 01:36 AM Books & Literature

EDITORIAL / Why read?
22 January 2026, 00:00 AM Books & Literature
THE SHELF / 7 new books to look out for in 2026
22 January 2026, 00:00 AM Books & Literature

INTERVIEW / Reclaiming the unwritten: Kanika Gupta on colonialism, embodiment, and the art of remembering

Gupta shares her insights on reclaiming forgotten histories, reimagining myths, and connecting ancient narratives to contemporary ecological and social concerns.
22 November 2025, 11:51 AM Books & Literature
EVENT REPORT / An eco-critical look at Sultan: Reading the manuscript of ‘Sultan Er Krishi Jiggasha’
With the aid of Duniyadari Archive, Pavel Partha’s soon-to-be-published book Sultan Er Krishi Jiggasha is a new addition, which looks at Sultan’s work from an eco-critical perspective.
8 November 2025, 11:43 AM Books & Literature
NEWS REPORT / “Curious love letter”: Wole Soyinka responds after US cancels visa
He responded to the situation with grace, mentioning “I like people who have a sense of humour".
30 October 2025, 10:45 AM Books & Literature

ULAB Press seeking manuscripts to publish

ULAB Press will published PhD monographs, original research, translations of seminal texts, creative works and textbooks, as well as manuscripts comprising photography of cultural heritage or national significance.
14 May 2023, 08:34 AM

A gripping portrayal of one of Greek mythology’s most strong-willed women

We witness her ferocities that are little associated with the common understanding of a “just” ruler. We see her as a loving mother, while also finding the fallibilities of motherhood flawlessly seamed into the storytelling.
12 May 2023, 12:29 PM

There’s a new book out soon. Is it by Taylor Swift or BTS?

The guessing game began a few days ago, when an anonymous, untitled book scheduled for July 9, “4C Untitled Flatiron Nonfiction Summer 2023”, had Taylor Swift fans so convinced she had written a memoir that they made it a bestseller.
12 May 2023, 04:00 AM

When BookTok amplifies diversity, who controls the narrative?

When certain types of books are consistently marketed and sold more than others, it can result in a lack of diversity in the types of stories and perspectives that are being shared
11 May 2023, 00:00 AM

Mohammad Isam’s new book recaps Bangladesh cricket through the ages

Author Mohammad Isam is a household name to those who follow Bangladesh cricket through ESPNCricinfo.
11 May 2023, 00:00 AM

Tough choices, terrifying consequences

A major scientific breakthrough has ensured that boys born with a particular gene can be identified as having the potential to grow into violent men.
11 May 2023, 00:00 AM

What to make of the diversity in the International Booker shortlist

Several threads of commonality tie the books together just as their origins showcase their differences.
10 May 2023, 12:55 PM

‘The room by the window was Baba’s favourite’: Doel Majumdar

The last rites of the renowned writer, beloved by readers in both Bengals, was held yesterday.
10 May 2023, 09:00 AM

Foraying into Tagore’s short stories

It is important to set unconventional examples at the time that they are written; Tagore’s work did this.
9 May 2023, 08:25 AM

Reading for Mother’s Day at Shahabuddin park

The event is being organised on Saturday, May 13 in celebration of Mother’s Day, at The Bookworm located in Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed Park in Gulshan 2.
8 May 2023, 12:09 PM

Gabriel García Márquez’s unseen novel will be published next year

The novel, which will span around 150 pages, tells the story of a woman named Ana Magdalena Bach, who visits a tropical island to lay flowers on her mother’s grave, and ends up having an affair. 
7 May 2023, 13:00 PM

“Books need to be highlight to elevate a country to the global level”: Abdullah Abu Sayeed

This is how the gradual exchange of literature and culture takes place.
6 May 2023, 11:38 AM

4 books that explore press freedom

Here are four books that explore the stories of journalists, and the issues surrounding press freedom.
5 May 2023, 04:00 AM

In conversation with South Asia’s preeminent literary agent, Kanishka Gupta

I always tell the authors to make subjective, qualitative decisions. So many of my authors say no to higher offers from publishing houses if they don’t feel comfortable with the publisher or editor.
4 May 2023, 09:13 AM

Language can be the ultimate colonial weapon

Despite these heavy themes, Babel remains inherently readable. It is quick to attract the reader’s attention and then hold it captive, making it a very difficult book to put down.
4 May 2023, 08:42 AM

How you too can nearly, almost, probably become a Jedi Knight

At its core, 'Star Wars' is a classic tale of underdogs taking on a powerful enemy; it's a story of hope and perseverance, of standing up for what's right even when the odds are against you.
3 May 2023, 13:00 PM

Books exploring workers’ rights in South Asia

In order to understand the background of the labour movements in South Asia or the plight of workers, here are some books to add to your reading list.
2 May 2023, 14:46 PM

My first foray into fiction with Feluda

Growing up, I never analysed what drew me to the Feluda novels. It is only now that I marvel at how Feluda remained the fiction novel read at leisure by a self-proclaimed Bookworm such as myself for so long in my childhood.
2 May 2023, 12:57 PM

5 books to read for International Workers’ Day

Concentrating on women workers from Bangladesh, Nepal, India and Pakistan, Women and Work in South Asia also tackles the advancement of individual corporate sectors due to the involvement of women workers.
1 May 2023, 04:30 AM

‘The Hunger Games’ and the danger of desensitisation to violence

In making the Hunger Games unglamorous, Suzanne Collins challenges the audience to reflect on how they view violence in entertainment
30 April 2023, 12:55 PM