On the ninth day of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025, the fading winter air of Magh carries stories of resilience. With 97 new books arriving today, the fair remains a hub of literary excitement. But beyond the thrill of fresh publications, a deeper narrative is unfolding-one where women are not just telling stories but reclaiming their voices against oppression.
At the heart of the fair's conversations is 'July'r Golpo' (July's Story), a special event held on Saturday. Speakers reflected on the July Uprising, when female students faced brutal repression, and how, months later, the defeated forces still target them with online harassment. Among them was Nafisa Islam Sakaafi, a Dhaka University student, who did not hesitate to call out the ongoing attacks. She said, "The way the Awami League physically assaulted female protesters, they are now targeting us online with character assassination attempts. This is no less damaging than physical harassment."
Jahangirnagar University student Maliha Namlah echoed the outrage. "Expecting remorse from those who killed people in July is foolishness," she said. "The ruling party has turned politics into authoritarianism. Because I wore a hijab during the protests, they labelled me as a militant and even published lists to brand us extremists. As if my clothing determines whether I have the right to be an activist."
The discussion, moderated by writer and journalist Zubair Ibn Kamal, resonated deeply, as many in the audience nodded in silent agreement, some holding back tears, others with fists clenched in quiet defiance.
Beyond activism, women writers are leaving their mark on the fair. Acclaimed novelist Debdatta Bandhopaddhay, with her latest book 'The Ultimate Truth' said, "Through my story, I wanted to expose the hidden faces of society-the ones that thrive on exploitation and corruption. In our cities, darkness often hides in plain sight, and the fight against it is not just about justice, but about personal sacrifices. Shatadal Samanta's journey symbolises a broader struggle against systemic decay, but it's a harsh reminder that sometimes, even victory comes at a great cost."
At Rodela Prokashoni's stall, poet Ishita Zerin recited lines from her latest poem collection 'Tondra O Tomishar Kabbo': "Waking up from the deep slumber of life, I see, The scent of seaweed, pearls, and coral still lingers on my body, A cosmic dust-laden constellation tattoo is drawn on my forehead, In my deep trance-filled eyes rests the ancient, blue-hued, silent light of eternity." The applause was thunderous, but the message was clear-women are no longer waiting to be heard.
