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deciding what to publish. “Now we are hopefully moving into an era in which apprehension about what can and cannot be published will be somewhat eased,” he added.
Speakers at the event praised UPL and its founder, Mohiuddin Ahmed, for producing professional and high-standard publications that have helped introduce Bangladesh to the world.
Prof Ali Riaz, special assistant to the chief adviser, said UPL has been a leading name in academic publishing in Bangladesh since the 1980s and described it as a matter of pride.
He said Mohiuddin Ahmed managed to build and sustain such an institution despite a political culture that often undermines institutions.
Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow at Centre for Policy Dialogue, described Mohiuddin Ahmed, who died in 2021, as an optimistic, patriotic, and learned individual – something that drove him to bring out quality books as a way of establishing a knowledge-based society.
“We remember him more and more when we find ignorance all around,” he said.
Dr Debapriya said Mohiuddin Ahmed taught him that institutional education alone does not define learning, and lamented that he did not receive state recognition. “We, therefore, dearly call him publisher emeritus,” he said.
The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam fondly recalled his memories of Mohiuddin Ahmed, who always advocated for quality books that he strongly believed are a vehicle for building a knowledge-based society.
He said Mohiuddin Ahmed was a dedicated soul for the intellectual development -- something that can be a lesson for others to follow.
Noted photographer Shahidul Alam said Mohiuddin Ahmed consistently stood for truth and justice and protested what he considered unfair.
Former adviser to a caretaker government, Rasheda K Choudhury, said she learned a great lesson from Mohiuddin, who not only led an essential institution for many years, but also developed the next ladder of leadership.
Noted actor Ramendu Majumder, Prof Swapan Adnan, Prof Syeed Ferdous, Prof Perween Hasan, Dr Tawfique Joarder, ornithologist Enam-Ul-Haque, and UPL Managing Director Mahrukh Mohiuddin also spoke, among others.
Remembering
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a faction of Chhatra Union, said one of the exhibitions, “Razakarer Amolnama”, features various articles published in the Daily Sangram. Another, “Bijoy Gatha”, highlights the nation’s victory in the Liberation War.
The exhibition, “Opurno Gonojuddho”, portrays the struggles people faced even after independence, while “Jara Chilen Jara Achen” focuses on the left-leaning intellectuals martyred on December 14, 1971.
The remaining arrangement, “Gonohottar Sakkho”, documents both the mass killings carried out by the Pakistani Army and the struggles of women during the war.
Meghmallar Bosu, president of the DU unit of the Chhatra Union, said the Awami League “monopolised” the Liberation War narrative during its rule, erasing its “people’s war character”. He said the anti-liberation forces have been attempting to “diminish the war’s significance since the July uprising”.
“We organised this event primarily to counter these intellectual distortions. Through meticulous research, we’ve brought forward the reality of the people’s war. We’ve also highlighted the genocide and exposed how Razakars manufactured consent for genocide,” he said.
Regarding the event, Maeen Ahmed, general secretary of the unit, said this year’s victory month holds special significance as an “organised group has been questioning the Liberation War since the July uprising”.
“We see this time as both a crisis and an opportunity full of possibilities,” he added.