The New Nation - Internet Edition

From The New Nation: writings during the emergency

By: Shahidul Alam

First published: August 2008

Published by: Ankur Prakashani, 38/4, Banglabazar,

Dhaka 1100

Pages: 174

Price: Tk. 170.00

'From The New Nation: writings during the emergency' by Shahidul Alam is a collection of essays written during early eight months of the on-going state of emergency. The book consists of 37 articles composed during the period from mid-January to early September 2007. The articles were published in The New Nation at a stretch as the author's weekly columns.

Shahidul Alam has a varied career ranging from being a diplomat to teaching at universities and fiction writer. He taught at the University of Dhaka and Boston University in the USA. He is a writer of fiction, non-fiction literature and screenwriter.

He has acted on stage and in television dramas and has also directed plays. He has publications including collection of short stories and essays. A novel written by him awaits publication.

He contributes articles to The New Nations and writes for other newspapers. Currently he is the Head of the Department of Media and Communication of a university in Bangladesh.

Except a few, most of the essays in the book deal mainly with domestic politics, 'more appropriately, the state of politics during the first eight months of the emergency in Bangladesh' - as the author puts it.

The book covers possibly all the political developments in the country during the period. In this sense 'From The New Nation: writings during the emergency' is like a documentary of the important political events with, of course, his comments and evaluation.

Thus, the book depicts a picture of the inner-self of the author: his political philosophy and values and position on the question of democracy. He has also made an assessment of the successes and failures of the caretaker government. The author held politicians and other stakeholders in the political system of the country responsible for the emergence of political anarchy prior to the so-called 1/11. Shahidul Alam did not hesitate to pass his comment about the future course of the caretaker system of administration. Referring to the extent of 'failures' of the present government, the author observes that it "only adds greater urgency for the caretaker system to be done away with for good".

One may or may not agree with the observations of Shahidul Alam. But there is no denial of the fact that he is a keen observer of the political developments in the country. He has showed his versatility in covering and analysing them. Readers may find the book worth reading.

In spite of blunt and strong acerbic comments on various issues, The New Nation published the essays without any editorial changes. Shahidul Alam spoke highly of The New Nation and its editorial policy and the embodiment of the principle of freedom of expression.

Reviewed by: Sarker Nazrul Islam