Rethinking Bangladesh: A Southasian Conversation

The year 2021 saw a welcome profusion of events and anthologies to mark the 50th year of Bangladesh’s Liberation. While much of the focus during these occasions were naturally on the country’s history, we at Himal Southasian felt there was a need for more conversations on Bangladesh’s present, as well as the forces shaping its future. This is what we attempted to do in our special series of articles, titled Rethinking Bangladesh, which brings together over a dozen writers and artists, many of them based in Bangladesh, and all of them with expertise and informed insights on the country. This panel event and the fourth edition of Southasian Conversation, a series of online crossborder conversation, we hope, will provide an opportunity to discuss some of the concerns that shaped the special series, but also serve as a platform for asking other, often-ignored political-economic, social, technological and ecological questions. • Moderated by Shahidul Alam (Photojournalist, writer and activist, Dhaka) Speakers: • Rasel Ahmed (Filmmaker, archivist, and founding editor of Roopbaan, Columbus) • Rozina Islam (Investigative journalist, Prothom Alo, Dhaka) • Zara Rahman (Tech researcher, linguist and Deputy Director at The Engine Room, Berlin) • Dina M Siddiqi (Anthropologist and Clinical Associate Professor at NYU, New York) The full panel discussion is now available on Youtube, Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. www.himalmag.com/rethinking-bangladesh-special-issue-event-2021/