Shobdomukur Readers' Forum

  In rural Bangla, a Nakshi Kantha is more than a useful household item. It is a quiet form of expression that carries women’s feelings, memories, and creativity. The Nakshi Kantha of Jamalpur has preserved this tradition for generations. Simple pieces of cloth are transformed through needlework into beautiful patterns of flowers, vines, birds, and geometric designs. Together, these designs make Jamalpur’s Nakshi Kantha an important part of the region’s folk art. Jamalpur is largely an agricultural district. During their free time, especially women in rural communities, often create handicrafts such as Nakshi Kantha. Old sarees, lungis, and dhotis are often reused to make these quilts. Every stitch carries stories of family life, personal feelings, and memories passed down from one generation to another. Designs and Features of Nakshi Kantha Jamalpur’s Nakshi Kantha commonly features flowers and vines, the sun, the moon, lotus flowers, fish, birds, and different geometric patterns....

  Dhaka’s Heritage in Clay: The Story of Traditional Pottery Dhaka is not just the name of a city. It is a living history, a place filled with tradition and the spirit of centuries. Once known as an important centre of the golden age of Bengal, Dhaka was also famous for its beautiful muslin, grand mosques, culture and trade. From the Mughal period to British colonial rule, from the period of Pakistan’s rule to becoming the capital of independent Bangladesh, Dhaka has maintained its own unique identity throughout its history. Even today, among the tall buildings and concrete structures of modern Dhaka, traces of ancient art can still be found. One such tradition is pottery, which has survived through generations as a symbol of human creativity. The potters’ communities scattered across different parts of Dhaka are quiet witnesses to this fading history. Clay pots, pitchers, lamps, colourful dolls and artistic household items are not simply useful objects. Each one carries a piece of...

  Jhalokathi's Gamcha: The Mark of Time in Local Handicrafts Bangladesh is known for its green landscapes, rivers, fields, and the long history created through the hard work of its people. Jhalokathi, a river surrounded district in the southern part of Bangladesh, is a clear reflection of this natural beauty and rural life. Located along the Sugandha, Bishkhali, and Dhanisindhri rivers, the area was once well known for river trade, agriculture, and rural crafts. Jhalokathi is a coastal plain district in the Barishal Division and covers an area of about 748.32 square kilometres. It is bordered by Barishal to the north, Pirojpur to the south and west, and Barishal and Pirojpur to the east. Historically, Jhalokathi has been part of the long history of the settlements of ancient Bengal. Its importance grew during the medieval period because of its river based transport system. During British rule, it became an important trading centre in the Barishal region. After the independence of B...

  Dry Fish of Cox’s Bazar: A Continuation of Coastal Livelihoods Cox’s Bazar District, situated on the south-eastern tip of Bangladesh, is one of the country’s most important coastal regions. Its long natural sea beach, sea-dependent livelihoods, and rich fisheries resources have given Cox’s Bazar distinctive importance not only in tourism but also in economic terms. The district’s economy has long been centred on the sea, with fishing, salt production, and fish processing among its principal activities. An important part of this sea-adjacent way of life is the production of dried fish, locally known as shutki . This industry, developed over generations in the coastal communities of Cox’s Bazar, continues to play a significant role in the district’s economy and food culture. The coastal areas of Maheshkhali, Kutubdia, Teknaf, and Chakaria are well known for dried fish production. Dried fish from these areas is regularly supplied to markets across the country. The Process of Making ...

  Shobdomukur Birth Anniversary Humayun Azad Humayun Azad was an uncompromising explorer of Bangla language and literature. He was born on 28 April 1947 (14 Boishakh 1354 Bengali calendar) in Shrinagar Upazila of present-day Munshiganj.   This distinguished intellectual was simultaneously a poet, novelist, linguist, researcher, writer of children’s literature, and a deeply critical and socially conscious thinker. His body of work was as diverse as it was intellectually expansive.   In his literary and intellectual world, Humayun Azad initiated a fearless revolution, where hypocrisy, dogmatism, and the masks of social conservatism were stripped away to reveal harsh realities. He brought a new voice to discussions on secularism, feminism, sexuality, and progressiveness. Through his writings, he continuously sought the inner truth of human existence. In linguistics, he approached the Bangla language through a modern analytical lens. His children’s literature carried si...

  Shobdomukur Birth Anniversary Fazle Hasan Abed In the history of development and human welfare in Bangladesh, Fazle Hasan Abed shines as a luminous star. He was born on April 27, 1936, in the month of Boishakh. He was the founder of BRAC, one of the world’s largest non-governmental development organizations. Through his visionary leadership and deep sense of humanity, BRAC has played an extraordinary role in improving the lives of the poor not only in Bangladesh but across many countries around the world. His contributions to education, healthcare, women’s empowerment, and poverty alleviation have been widely acclaimed globally. Through his life’s work, Fazle Hasan Abed demonstrated how a society can be transformed with thoughtful planning and sincere effort. His initiatives have enabled millions of people to access education, receive healthcare, and find pathways toward self-reliance. For his remarkable contributions, he received numerous national and international honours. ...

  Shobdomukur Birth Anniversary Ustad Ayet Ali Khan Ayet Ali Khan was born on 26 April 1884, in the month of Boishakh. He was one of the most distinguished classical musicians of the subcontinent-a devoted practitioner and an accomplished sitar maestro. Belonging to the renowned Maihar gharana, he played a vital role in preserving the purity and aesthetic depth of classical music through his lifelong dedication. Owing to his extraordinary mastery of the sitar, he came to be respectfully known as Ustad Ayet Ali Khan. The resonance of his sitar carried both restrained elegance and controlled profundity. Avoiding unnecessary ornamentation, he focused on the natural unfolding of melody and the inner essence of ragas. This very quality set him apart from his contemporaries and established him in a distinct and dignified position. His contribution as a teacher was equally significant. He did not confine classical music merely to performance; rather, he presented it as a disciplined a...

  Shobdomukur Birth Anniversary Anwar Pasha On a fresh day of Boishakh, April 15, 1928, Anwar Pasha was born-whose pen resonated as a powerful voice in Bangla literature. Like the arrival of a new year, his emergence seemed to bring with it a new perspective to the literary world.   He was, at once, a poet, novelist, essayist, and educator. Yet his identity lies deep within the profoundness of his literary creations. In his writings, a sincere call for humanity returns. ‘Rifle Roti Aurat’ undoubtedly stands as one of his finest works, where the history of the Liberation War takes shape through the intense realities of human life. The complex emotions of struggle and love that he portrayed during the war left a lasting imprint on readers’ minds. This novel may well be regarded as an extraordinary document of Bangladesh’s Liberation War. His other works are equally thoughtful and deeply evocative. In ‘Neer Shondhani’, ‘Nishuti Rater Gatha’, ‘Nodi Nisheshito Hole’, and ‘Onn...

  পরিষ্কার পরিচ্ছন্নতা, পরিবেশ সংরক্ষণ ও প্রাণীকূলের রক্ষণাবেক্ষণে ধর্মীয় দর্শন আমজাদ হোসাইন

  Alaol’s Padmavati and Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad: The Dual Epic of Creation and Preservation of Bangla Language and Literature. Naima Parvin

  Tanzina Fardoush's Column LAW & RIGHTS Muslim-Non-Muslim Marriage, Muslim-Hindu Marriage Process According to Islamic law, a Muslim man is not permitted to marry a Hindu woman. However, if the woman renounces her religion and converts to Islam, there remains no Islamic barrier to marrying her. Nevertheless, without religious conversion, marriage is also possible under the Special Marriage Act of 1872. A Muslim may marry a person of another religion under two conditions: 1. Through religious conversion 2. Under the provisions of the Special Marriage Act, 1872 Steps for a Hindu–Muslim Marriage Through Religious Conversion 1. Religious Conversion: First, the Hindu woman must formally change her religion through a court affidavit. For this purpose, she must seek the assistance of a trusted lawyer. By declaring the renunciation of her previous religion through an affidavit, her conversion becomes legally valid. 2. Marriage Affidavit: After completing the affidavit for relig...