Writer: Moshiur Rahman Shanto 

Author & Radio jockey

Hearing the words “Magan dang umaga,” I turned around. As I looked, I felt a bit confused. I’ve been in the Philippines for seven years. I’ve met many women here, spoken to quite a few, but not once in all these years had I seen a girl who looked like a Bangladeshi woman. Which makes
sense—most Filipino women resemble Chinese or Japanese girls in appearance. But the girl standing in front of me now looked exactly like a Bangladeshi woman. With eyes narrowed slightly, she looked at me and asked in fluent Filipino, “Why isn’t there anyone at reception?” Scratching my head, I replied in Filipino, “I don’t know. I don’t work in this office. I came to see my friend Aslam. He works here, in HR and Admin.” She said sharply, “I didn’t ask who you came to see or what your friend does. Why are you talking so much like a chatterbox?”
I shrank with embarrassment. My habit of talking too much had landed me in awkward spots many times. Trying to smile, I said, “Sorry. I’ve had this habit since childhood—it’s hard to shake.”
She was about to say something when someone finally showed up at reception, and she walked over. I stood waiting for Aslam. By the time Aslam arrived, I had already forgotten about the girl. Now, about Aslam—he’s my childhood friend. When I moved to Manila, he followed shortly after, sorting out all his paperwork, passport, and visa. Unfortunately, although we arrived in the Philippines together, we didn’t have the good fortune to work together. Sometimes I would visit his office, sometimes he’d come to mine. We had thought we’d at least live together, if not work together, but our workplaces ended up being too far apart. So we had to live separately. Anyway, that day we were chatting on a sofa near reception when, to our surprise, the Filipino girl who looked Bangladeshi came up and said, “Sorry—I was really stressed earlier and behaved badly. I hope you didn’t mind.” I replied, “You didn’t behave badly. No need to say sorry.”
She smiled sheepishly. “I’m just going through a tough time. I had an interview today. I thought it would be like all the others where I’d get rejected again. But this time, I felt a little hopeful. If I get the job, it’ll be such a relief.” I was staring at her in amazement. A girl who looked so much like a Bangladeshi was speaking Filipino fluently, opening up to a complete stranger about her financial troubles. Aslam was sitting beside me, clearly confused about how we knew each other. She looked at me with a bright smile and extended her right hand. “I’m Esther Aizan. Aizan is my family name, so just call me Esther.” I shook her hand and said, “I’m Shafik. Just call me Shafik.”
Esther laughed out loud. That was my first meeting with Esther. After that, we began to see each other more often. Of course, it was mostly because I took the initiative—I would visit Aslam’s office frequently just to see her. Since she got the job there, it became easier for me to drop by, ostensibly to meet Aslam, but really to have coffee with Esther at Johans Café. As we chatted over coffee, our bond deepened. Before I realized it, our friendship had turned into love.
I couldn’t stop thinking: I love Esther. I love her with all my heart. No matter what, I want to marry her. I had a feeling she might feel the same. I sensed it in her smile, in her eyes. One day, while sitting in Johans Café, I got down on one knee and said, “Pogi ka, mahal kita”—“You’re beautiful, I love you.”
Very film-like, I know. A scene middle-class boys like me only dream of. But I did it. Esther smiled and replied, “Mahal kita”—“I love you too.” Even though we both confessed our love, I was scared. What if we couldn’t get married in the end? After all, I was just a Bangladeshi guy with an average job in the Philippines. It wouldn’t be
surprising if she didn’t want to marry me. But to my surprise, it was Esther who first brought up marriage. She told her family about me—her younger brother Isaac and her mother. Since they were a small family and financially not so well-off, her mother didn’t object. Everything fell
into place, and we got married quietly, without telling my family back home. Strangely, I didn’t feel guilty. Everything felt right. Though our wedding wasn’t extravagant, it was full of joy. Our friends filled it with celebration. I stepped into a new chapter of my life. Suddenly, everything changed. I was floating in happiness. Esther loved me deeply, more than before. Her curiosity about my country—my village, my parents, my culture—grew stronger. Despite knowing that Bangladesh was a poor
country, she never showed disdain. But she had some funny misconceptions—she thought people in my country wandered around with empty plates begging for food! She believed the
country was full of crime, theft, and violence. I told her stories to correct these ideas—stories about my village, the rivers, the people. Soon, Esther became insistent about visiting Bangladesh. I also longed to introduce her to my
parents. So I arranged a three-month leave and booked our tickets.

We landed in Dhaka and stayed a couple of days at my sister Masuma’s place, but I wanted to take Esther to the village. My parents shouldn’t have to travel just to see their daughter-in-law. So we headed to my childhood village.
When we arrived, my heart swelled with joy. My parents welcomed Esther warmly. Word spread quickly, and soon neighbors flocked to see the foreign bride. They were thrilled. A village boy brought home a foreign bride! But their enthusiasm faded when they realized Esther
looked just like a local girl—not the fair-skinned beauty they imagined.
Still, Esther’s excitement didn’t waver. She threw herself into village life. She befriended the locals. Time flew. A month passed like a week. I wished I had taken six months’ leave instead of three. We tried to make the most of the remaining time. But around one and a half months
into our stay, something strange happened. One evening, Esther said, “Shafik, I don’t feel well. My left leg hurts so much—I feel like cutting
it off.” I laughed. “You’ve walked around too much today. That’s all.” But she didn’t smile. She went to bed early, without another word. Later that night, I woke up to the sound of sobbing. Esther was sitting alone, crying, holding her leg. I was stunned. I stayed up massaging her leg, worried sick. In our village, a husband
massaging his wife’s feet is practically scandalous. But I didn’t care. She fell asleep before dawn. The next morning, she was cheerful again. The pain was gone. She resumed her adventures—walking by the river, going to the market. I relaxed. A week passed peacefully. But then the pain came back—worse than before. She screamed through the night. My sister massaged her leg with warm mustard oil. Nothing helped. My mother said, “Shafik, I think your wife has been possessed by a jinn. You should call a fakir.” I hesitated but eventually agreed. The fakir arrived the next day with a helper and began a bizarre ritual. He pressed Esther’s finger so hard she winced in pain, then started chanting.
“Where are you from?” he asked. “Koh-e-Kaaf,” he answered himself. “Why are you here?” “I love this girl.” He claimed Esther was possessed by a 190-year-old jinn. Then he demanded a broomstick and struck her head twice with it. Esther screamed. I rushed in and pulled her away. My father was furious with me for disrespecting the fakir. “You’ve become your wife’s puppet!
Acting like a rich man just because you married a foreigner!”

Esther was shaken. She insisted we return to the Philippines immediately. I agreed. But things got worse after we returned. Esther withdrew from me. Though we lived under the same roof, we grew apart. The leg pain worsened. I took her to an orthopedic doctor. All scans were normal. He said, “I think the problem is in her mind. You should see a psychiatrist.” The psychiatrist said something that shook me to the core: “Your wife has BIID—Body Integrity Identity Disorder. She doesn’t believe her leg is hers. You should consider amputation.” I was horrified. “Are you mad? If you have a headache, do you cut off your head?” He said, “If you don’t do this, one day she might try to cut it off herself.” I dismissed him. But I was worried. Esther kept saying, “Buy a gun, Shafik. Shoot my leg off.” Every day she believed more strongly that her leg didn’t belong to her. I tried to reassure her,
but she grew more distant. I thought of calling her mother and brother. But before I could, something terrifying happened. One night, I woke up and found Esther gone. The rooftop door was open. I ran up and found her unconscious, her leg bleeding, a bloodied electric saw beside her. I rushed her to the hospital, knowing in my heart it was too late. Esther was already gone. The police arrived, but her mother managed to settle things. The autopsy confirmed she had done it herself. We buried her the next day. Her mother never blamed me. She even protected me from the police.
Without Esther, life became unbearable. I left my job and returned to Bangladesh.
Eventually, I remarried. My wife is named Urmi, and we have a daughter named Onubhuti. I had wanted to name her Esther. I couldn’t. I don’t know if I’m truly happy now. But whenever I think of Esther, a sharp pain cuts through
me. It silences my present and drags me back into the past. And I feel, somehow, that Esther is still with me. Very near.

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Natun Gati: Mahmudul Alam Dipu is a rising literary figure, known for his engaging writing and unique storytelling. A dreamer at heart, he has been consistently showcasing his talent through his works. Born and raised in Dhaka, Dipu’s literary journey is deeply rooted in his passion for books.

Dipu’s father, Shafi Uddin, was a religious scholar (Maulana), while his mother, Razia Begum, played a significant role in his upbringing. Standing at 5 feet 6 inches with a medium build, Dipu now resides in the United States, where he works in data science. Despite his professional commitments, writing remains an integral part of his life. His latest book, 293 Million Dollars and Me, has made waves at this year’s book fair.

A Childhood Shaped by Literature

Dipu’s love for books began in his early years. A defining moment came when he visited his uncle’s house as a child and discovered Jochona O Jononir Golpo by the renowned Bangladeshi author Humayun Ahmed. That book left a profound impact on young Dipu’s mind. Recalling the memory, he shares, “I was about 10 or 11 years old when I visited my uncle’s house. While looking around, I found a book on the table—it was Jochona O Jononir Golpo. That book changed everything for me.”

This moment marked the beginning of Dipu’s deep engagement with literature. As a voracious reader, he consumed countless books before venturing into writing himself.

From Passion to Publication

Balancing the demands of expatriate life, Dipu gradually began writing his own stories. His first book, 293 Million Dollars and Me, is based on his experiences abroad, interwoven with the lives of his friends. He completed the manuscript in 2011 and later translated it into English. The book was first published in the United States in 2013 and has now been introduced to Bangladeshi readers at this year’s Ekushey Book Fair, published by Manchitro Prokashan. Dipu believes his readers will find the book accessible and engaging.

The novel primarily explores the life of an expatriate, chronicling Dipu’s personal experiences along with the tragic story of his late friend, Khalek. Having confronted the inevitability of death up close, Dipu translated his emotions into words, crafting a compelling narrative.

A Proud Bangladeshi at Heart

Despite living abroad, Dipu remains deeply connected to his Bangladeshi roots. He still enjoys traditional Bangladeshi cuisine whenever possible. A passionate driver, he loves long drives on highways. In his leisure time, he reads, writes, and continuously seeks new knowledge. Currently, he is engaged in poverty alleviation initiatives, nurturing a dream of a hunger-free world.

On the personal front, Mahmudul Alam Dipu is a devoted family man, residing in the United States with his wife and daughter. His journey from an avid reader to an accomplished writer is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance.

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Md Nawaj Shorif, Natun Gati: Imagine doctor playing with words! One such example is poet Ashraf Jewel. He is a doctor, poet and storyteller at the same time! After serving in various hospitals, he is currently working at United Hospital. He has been working as a doctor for almost 20 years. He is father of two children. His wife, Dr. Rawshan Ara Khanam, is a chest disease specialist at United Hospital.

Ashraf Jewel considers his profession an ‘opportunity given by the Creator’. Writing is his passion. In 2014, he focused on literary pursuits. He received the ‘Itikotha Maitree Sahitya Sammanna-2017’ from West Bengal, India. He is the founding editor of ‘Purpopaschim Sahitya Patrika’.

This year, his book of poems, ‘Kobira Ajibon Birodhi Dol’, was published. The book was published by Bunon Prakashani. The book is available at stall number 356 of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair. The book is also available online on the website of rokmari.com. Regarding this book, he said, ‘By reading the poems in this book, it is possible to build a path to overcome oppression, tyranny and deprivation towards people. Poets are mirror of society. When the poet’s feelings match the feelings of people, it becomes poetry. I wanted to draw a character of the present time, in which the people of the future, the future time and society may try to portray the future”.

He also said, “We consider our lives very easy and cheap. But the Creator has created humans as the best creatures. Everyone has been given some responsibility. We cannot fulfill that responsibility. We often treat life very unfairly due to negligence. We see life very easily. We often do not understand the importance of life. Many people come to the ICU with a desire to live. These patients have served as excellent material and inspiration for my writing.’

Along with poetry, Ashraf Jewel has also written about political corruption. His first story book ‘Rashtrodharonar Biruddhe Mamla O Bibidh Golpo’ was published in 2017. During that turbulent time, his mother’s body was burned in a petrol bomb. The stories in this book are written to highlight that time. The manuscript of the book was awarded the Gemcon Young Literature Award at that time!

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Md Nawaj Shorif, Natun Gati: We have heard about Rapunzel’s long hair in fairy tale. But no one ever imagined that Rapunzel exists in real life. But there is indeed one whose hair height is higher than her own height. She is a Bangladeshi woman, named Shamima Akhtar Anika.

Shamima is 5 feet 2 inches tall, but her hair height is 7 feet. It has already gone viral on many social media platforms. Everyone praised her for this. She is famous all across the globe. Currently she completed her IT Engineering from Australia.

When asked about her hair, Shamima said, “My grandmother, mother, sister and aunt also have knee-length hair. I am the first woman in Bangladesh who has got such long hair. Many times I thought of cutting my hair because of the pain in my neck. Doctors also advised me to cut my hair. But there’s an invisible force which prevents me from cutting my hair.”

She also said, “I have a dream about my hair. I haven’t met my life partner yet. I will surprise him in the future. Then maybe I can think of cutting my hair short. Also, I am a big fan of Sanjay Leela Bhansali and I dream about working with him everyday. I wish this reaches his ears. I just wish I could be a part of Bollywood.”

Shamima also revealed that if she jokingly says that she’s an Indian, every Indian believes that. She said, “If I say jokingly that I am an Indian, everybody believes that. Even Indians as well. They love my Hindi and my poem.”

She recited a poem written by her.
““Pyar”

Pyar; he to ye juban par ak lafj he,
Par mehesus ise dharkan se kiya jata he!

Pyar ak ehesas he,
Jayse fulo ki khusbu bina chuye dilo ko mehekatihe,
Waise he pyar bina chuye he dilo ko behekatihe!

Pyar; likhta to ye gane ki bol he,
Par dhun se pata chalta he k ye kitna anmol he!

Pyar; is rango vari duniya me rangoli ki Mel he!
Pyar; do dilo ki Milan ki khatta mitha khel he!

Pyar; jindegi jine ki tal he!
Pyar he to jindegi khushal he!

Pyar; dilo me dharkano ki tarango si chal he!
Pyar; jindegi ka mitha sa pal he!
Pyar; musafir k liye bharose ki dhal he!
Pyar he to jina safal he!

Pyar; bas chota sa ak shabd he,
Par isse bante jagar sansar he!

Pyar; ak chahat he,
Pyar; dil me dharkan hone ki ahat he!
Pyar Miljaye to dilo ko rahat he!

Pyar; dilo me jan honeki wajud ka misal he!
Pyar; sunneme to ak lafj he par shayed pure kayanat k lajf kam par jaye is pyar ko bayan karneme!”

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Professor Dr. Abu Yusuf Md. Abdullah said, “Literature has to be a partner in the economic and social development of today’s world, and the Department of English at Northern University is making that effort through active teaching and research.”

Badal Syed said, “Literature has historically worked for the development of the country, soil and people and to purify the human heart. Literature can play a huge role in this age of information technology.”

Writer and dramatist Shakoor Majid said, “There is no alternative to literature for people’s sense of life. The role of literature is very much behind all revolutions of the world. Even 991 academicians and writers were killed on 14 December 1971 because literature played a role in the Liberation War and Independence of 1971.”

In a festive atmosphere, students celebrate the day amidst various events and taking oath to play a role in the economic development of the country and nation and cultural festivals.

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Natun Gati: Mariom Maria is one of the renowned music artists in Bangladesh. She has come so far for the love of music. Currently, Maria is living in New York, USA. She is busy with several new songs. Recently, she released a song on her official YouTube channel. The title of the song was ‘Ami Na Peyeo Khushi.’ The lyrics and music of the song were composed by Hasanal Abdullah. The music was composed by one of the famous music directors of Bangladesh, Torik Al Islam. And Russell Rahman was in charge for the production of the video. Recently, she got awarded the 2023 World Human Rights Award held in New York, America. The ceremony took place on October 22nd at the Queens Palace in New York. Many dignitaries were present, including famous Bangladeshi film actresses such as Moushumi, Shahnoor, etc. The President of the program, Dr. Rafiqul Islam, and the Secretary-General of the program, Dr. Kamrul Islam, supervised its conclusion. The artist said about this honor, “It is a lot of praise and pride for me. I feel very honored and hope to do better things in the near future.”

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Although born in Dhaka, the colorful childhood of the writer’s life was spent in the arms of beautiful hill track city, Chattogram.

She is the first child of father Abul Mansur Md Anowarul Hamid Khan and mother Firoza Begum.

In her educational career, she graduated from the United International University of Dhaka in the Department of Business Administration and later received a Master’s degree from the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh. She has also completed several training courses in the country and abroad on various subjects of Business Administration.

The author’s strong interest in writing has been from her childhood. Debut as a writer with his story book “Mayer Goynar Baksha” at Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2020. In 2021 the novel “Asampta” in 2022 “Kenya voyonkor” and “Aguntuk” and later “Fourth Floor” was published. Her short story book “Vistirna Jalshabi” has also been published by West Bengal’s reputed publication “Udar Akash”. Which has gained great readership in both Bengals. Several other books are awaiting publication.

Apart from the original writings, many articles published by the author in various international newspapers and magazines including Both Bangla have been widely appreciated by the reading community. It is to be noted that she is writing as a regular writer in the very popular daily “Puber Kalom” of West Bengal and “Paris Times” published in Paris, France, along with various newspapers of Bangladesh. U.K. is engaged. She received the approval of the government and the UK. As Assistant Producer of “The Global TV” aired from UK and as Goodwill Ambassador of Center For Creative Youth Of Bangladesh (CCYB).

Always striving to make the young generation book-oriented, this literary lover has engaged herself in various activities related to the promotion of books. She also likes to portray herself as a vivacious, multidimensional writer as well as a devoted reader.

“India-Bangladesh Friendship Award” from West Bengal “Udar Akash” publication “Chatak Foundation” from “India-Bangladesh Sahitya Sammelan” “Chatak Literature Award 2022” and “Friends of Humanity Award 2022” and “Dainik Bangalir Kantha Award” as fiction writer from Bangladesh 2023” were also achieved by her.

In future plans, she is strongly committed to maintain this practice of writing as well as to make a significant contribution to Bengali literature.

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Activities of Moshiur Rahman Shanto at a glance-

Masiur Rahman Shanto is popularly known as RJ Shanto. Some of his programs are very popular in the radio world. But he feels more comfortable seeing himself as a storyteller. Already 17 of his books have been published. Among which Bhorer Rong Kaalo, Be Positive, Train to Kashmir, Abhimaner Shohor, Teen Basanta have received tremendous response.

Apart from media, he is the founder of Bangladesh’s first story telling platform “Turning Talks Bangladesh” and serves as the CEO of “Voyage Factory Bangladesh”.

In recognition of his work, he received the Global Youth Parliament Award 2021 from the President of Nepal and the World Diplomacy Forum Award 2023 from Thailand.He also established “Amader Ananda Ashram” organization for youth. In spite of all this, he constantly thinks of his own writerly self and he runs in search of stories. He wants to tell people’s stories till the last breath of life.

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Everything is in one book. If you are suffering from any kind of disease including heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, fatty liver, high blood pressure, just by reading this book you will be able to understand what you should eat. The most interesting thing about the book is that next to what you should eat, you will get to know what you should not eat and besides writing for the convenience of the reader, the book is made more attractive by presenting the subject through pictures. So this book will play an outstanding role in selecting foods for your various diseases and conditions.
The members of Bangladesh Diabetic Association have also thought innovatively about the sale of the book keeping all the patients in mind. You will get this wonderful book at all Bangladesh Diabetic Society and BADAS accredited centers nationwide.
Apart from this, you can visit boiferry.com to get the book from any part of the country. The price of the book is Rs. 250.

Health is the root of all happiness. We all know this, but how many People care about their health ? To protect our health we need a balanced diet and moderate food list. The way food list and everything is organized in this book is the strong belief of all associated with the book that this book will play an important role in the lives of people of all ages and professions.

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