In 2013 Bangladesh experienced violence on a regular basis. We were forced to witness horrific deaths that perhaps normalized the atrocities that we witnessed. In the middle of the chaos that often follows violence and disasters,  we also witnessed citizens unite for a cause, without any support from political parties; we witnessed volunteerism that emerged after the Rana Plaza collapse. Continue reading “Volunteerism after Rana Plaza”

The bomb hurler and why he is burning Bangladesh
by Nadine Shaanta Murshid for AlalODulal.org

Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. If you look too deeply into the abyss, the abyss will look into you.   -Nietzsche

Continue reading “The bomb hurler and why he is burning Bangladesh”

2013, the year of corpses
– Professor Anu Muhammad, translated by Khujeci Tomai

2013 has ended, but instability has not ended.

This was the year of corpses.

This year will be marked as the year of blood, tears, oppression, fire, uncertainty.
Continue reading “2013: The Year of Corpses”

What is to be thought? (after Lenin’s “What is to be done”)
by Irfanur Rahman, translated by Ilias Kamal Risat for alalodulal.org

There are some terrible misconceptions about the leftists of bangladesh, bred by some famous propaganda. Here are some examples: Continue reading “Left Politics of Bangladesh: What Is To Be Thought?”

Politics is hard work — are we willing?
by Jyoti Rahman, adapted from earlier version posted at Mukti

Will future historians think of 2013 as a pivotal year for Bangladesh?  If they were to do so, it will not be because of anything that happened in the first half of this eventful year.  Continue reading “Politics is hard work — are we willing?”

Sadly, it is us, not them

by Srabanti Datta for AlalODulal.org

“If we take a thorough look, we’ll see that across every regime, we the citizens actually instigate, motivate, take part in, and take benefits of all the system malfunctions, regulation maneuvers, corruptions, power-abuses, non-performances, in numerous ways at every level.“
Continue reading “Sadly, it is us, not them”

A Never Ending Duel On Course To Take More Lives

by Zahur Ahmad for Alal O Dulal

This platform does not provide coverage of breaking news. We are a volunteer-run platform and do not have the resources to verify information in real-time. Thus our focus has been to produce long form analytical pieces. Yet, there emerge situations that demand “breaking news” coverage. The ongoing nationwide protests and blockades which have been reported to have taken many lives, we consider, is one such exceptional instance. Continue reading “A Never Ending Duel On Course To Take More Lives”

“Become Human Again”
By Faruk Wasif for Prothom Alo, Translated by Humayun Kabir for AlalODulal.org

In this damned country life cannot sustain.  In this land of death justice also cannot live.  Continue reading “Faruk Wasif: “Become Human Again””

“With every hartal, every police action, I see sticks falling on Majed Ali’s back. Leaders, you have options. The Majed Alis of Bangladesh don’t. They will not stop, so please, you must!” Continue reading “I see sticks falling on Majed Ali’s back”

Introduction to Mahmud Hasan’s The Utopia of Student Movement

by Nazmul Sultan for AlalODulal.org

A poet by vocation, Mahmud Hasan lived in and through politics. That Mahmud Hasan did poetry under the condition of politics is not a historical anomaly. Sharing each other’s orbit, modern Bengali poetry and politics grounded themselves in an intersected domain. Continue reading “Introduction to Mahmud Hasan’s The Utopia of Student Movement”

The curious case of the Surjapuri people
Guest post by Adil Hossain for AlalODulal.org

For the first time I properly encountered the Surjapuri identity was at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) during its Students’ Union (SU) elections. Apart from the dominant regional student lobbies of Azamgarhi, Ghazipuri, Bihari, Kashmiri, Saharanpuri and many others, Surjapuri students were also reckoned as a distinct community who need to be cajoled for votes separately. Continue reading “The curious case of the Surjapuri people”

by irfan chowdhury for Alal O Dulal

In a land where many still live in rural areas, paths through the paddy fields delight our hearts. Children smile and play about on dirt roads oblivious of the hard future they face; low-earning teachers, vendors, traders, farmers, fishermen, labourers and women go quietly about their business to make ends meet – determined to have a better future, if not for themselves, for their children.

Continue reading “A Harder Path”

The so called modern, progressive, couch potato, urban middle class/generation has again disappointed.

To avenge injustice done to Felani, out of rage when they should have taken personal responsibility to stop using all Indian products and call for a collective on field activism to go shop to shop to encourage them to stop selling all Indian products or carry out any other on field real impact activism – they rather choose to participate in a facebook like hunting exercise to name Indian high commission road as Felani road and are contented with their meek effort. Continue reading “Felani and ‘Progressive’ Youth”

The Matbar and the Bus
by Prashanta Tripura for AlalODulal.org

রাঙামাটি থেকে ঢাকা ফিরছিলাম গত রাতে, বিআরটিসির বাসে। যাত্রা শুরুর পর এক পর্যায়ে আমার আশেপাশের সহযাত্রীদের মধ্যে দেশোদ্ধারমূলক একটা উন্মুক্ত আলোচনা চলল কিছুক্ষণ, যাতে আমিও অংশ নিয়েছিলাম কিছুটা। Continue reading “Prashanta Tripura: The Matbar and the Bus”

If there is one figure from Indian Sub-continental history who is uniformly hated by Hindu nationalists, Hindu fundamentalists, Muslim nationalists and Muslim fundamentalists alike, that would be Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay, famous British historian and politician of 19^th century. Macaulay embodies in person all the insecurities the various Indian cultures and traditions harbors vis-à-vis the western civilization. Continue reading “In Praise of Lord Macaulay – 1”

 –   ‘Oh Bhai, kichhu paichhen?’ [Have you found anything, brother?]

–   Hya, paichhi to. Iter dewal, ghar, matir khola, pathor ar pathorer bhanga tukra’ [Yes, we have. Brick-built walls, rooms, pottery, stone and stone pieces.]

Continue reading “Encountering the past on the suspicious terrain of the present”