Of borders and tongues: A writer’s lifelong journey of losing and finding his mother language

Mahmud Rahman grew up in Dhaka and moved to the United States as an adult but his relationship with Bangla was shaped by much more than the crossing of borders.

Mahmud Rahman

· Feb 26, 2019 · 05:30 pm

Partition at 70: Why does Bangladesh act as if this anniversary only concerns India and Pakistan?

‘We have been Bangladesh longer than we were East Pakistan, and yet it feels that we have cobbled together something like a Banglastan.’

Mahmud Rahman

· Aug 26, 2017 · 08:30 pm

A mythical place called Bangla Motors serves as a reminder of Bangladesh’s history

This area in Dhaka has now become a cultural artefact.

Mahmud Rahman

· Apr 23, 2017 · 11:30 pm

Why we need a new, truly global, prize for world literature

The Nobel committee does not singularly rule over the world republic of letters.

Mahmud Rahman

· Oct 22, 2016 · 12:30 pm

In Bangladesh, writing fiction about the liberation war may well become impossible

Bangladesh is about to pass a law making it illegal to 'misrepresent' the liberation war of 1971. Will all writers have to tell the same story now?

Mahmud Rahman

· Jun 22, 2016 · 08:30 am

Bangladesh blogger's murder: Fighting for free expression in an age of death squads

How can free thought, science, and humanism in Bangladesh best be defended? What should you do when you know that the state cannot protect you?

Mahmud Rahman

· Aug 07, 2015 · 09:00 pm

Bangladesh: Fighting for free expression in an age of death squads

How can free thought, science, and humanism in Bangladesh best be defended? What should you do when you know that the state cannot protect you?

Mahmud Rahman

· Jun 07, 2015 · 11:30 am

Bangladesh: Where 'blogger' has become a word worthy of death

In the drive to squelch expression, the institutions of the state themselves are failing society as the societal consensus on the importance of free speech weakens.

Mahmud Rahman

· Apr 26, 2015 · 06:45 am