FLASH FICTION / Chand raat at Mohakhali

TRANSLATION is a risky job, but somebody has to do it. After all, a translator runs the risk of being lost in the act of crossing the language or cultural barrier.

EXPERTS in an authoritative book explores many aspects of the bureaucracy and offers food for thoughts to address the crisis in the administration.

The author had the rare opportunity of closely observing the techniques and strategies of governance being a personal secretary to former President Hussain Muhammad Ershad and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

A sweeping saga spanning four generations weaves itself through the bustling, pell-mell metropolis that is Calcutta and its antipode - a calm orderly small-town in Rhode Island, USA.

In order to exist, man must rebel, but rebellion must respect the limits that it discovers in itself - limits where minds meet, and in meeting, begin to exist. (Albert Camus)

Most people, including his close associates, don't see Syed Mujtaba Ali as a rebel. He had all the traits of a regular guy: a family, love for his siblings, dedication to parents, and commitment to one's roots.

Rahman, a young man on the doorstep of thirty, falls to the ground as the knife plunges deep into his back; piercing his muscles to almost reach his heart but, missing it by a hair's breadth hits his ribs.

Golden diseases are born in blood, Then they grow, flesh out as ghastly sores. See, the nation bears incurable diseases today, Bigoted demons are after-life businessmen, Phthisis, severity of diseases gradually burgeoning.

Mossad or “the institute” – if translated literally, is that formidable Israeli Secret Service which needs no introduction. And this is the first time that 21 of its greatest missions have found their way to the public domain.

A grimace envisaged—his medieval shawm as pulsates: on the way being sharks' dinner, to know half is more perilous than not knowing at all; there sits the poet, crosslegged. He smirks. And trillions of illustrations on their trapeze of words, swing in the brain-stomach.

LYING on the Couch is a story that opens up like the unfolding petals of a blooming flower.

THIS novel, published in 1979 in France, by Czech writer Milan Kundera explores the basic human nature of how people tolerate the torture and suffering of which they have no control. People tend to forget their past and we learn nothing from history. This novel even alludes to our Liberation War in 1971 and the torture unleashed by the Pakistani junta.

Who was this champion whose bodiless head lay sprawling on the sand; whose body had been pierced by hundreds of holes because of the very sharp arrows that had penetrated it, but the hero whose back showed not even one wound, whose chest showed that he had taken all assaults frontally, who could this brave champion be? His protective garment, waistband, spear, skin, steed, battle dress, equipment—all signified his heroic status, and yet he was so young—how well-built was this youth! Alas! Alas! Could you be Abdul Wahab?

QTN: I feel like as I progress with writing a story, I lose the pace and the interest. As a result, the conclusion of my story/article seems rash and out of place. Do you have any suggestions on how I can control this?

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

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.