Papers by Md. Mahmudul Hasan
New Age, 2025
Given this debate about the political bias of Bangladesh’s feminist groups, one can argue that th... more Given this debate about the political bias of Bangladesh’s feminist groups, one can argue that they kept quiet about the sexual harassment at JFK against Tasnim Jara because of their clandestine linkages with the political party to which the attackers belong. Irrespective of the veracity or otherwise of this charge, the onus is on Dhaka-based feminist groups to prove that their activism is independent of any political affiliation.
The Conversation , 2025
Halal is not just avoiding certain foods and drinks. It’s also about living an ethical and meanin... more Halal is not just avoiding certain foods and drinks. It’s also about living an ethical and meaningful life, both for oneself and others.
New Age, 2025
In the aftermath of the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre committed by the British, Nobel laureate R... more In the aftermath of the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre committed by the British, Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore returned his knighthood to the colonial government, stating: ‘The time has come when badges of honour make our shame glaring in the incongruous context of humiliation.’ Didn’t such a time ever come during the Hasina regime when an intellectual in Bangladesh needed to follow suit and relinquish their awards, honours, perks or privileges in protest against her misrule?
New Age, 2025
The way BNP and Chhatra Dal people have been behaving in post-Hasina Bangladesh has made it clear... more The way BNP and Chhatra Dal people have been behaving in post-Hasina Bangladesh has made it clear that they are fixated on perpetuating and exploiting the old system to their advantage. This realisation is more pronounced among our students who are alarmed to see Chhatra Dal members exhibiting symptoms that marked the behaviour of Chhatra League thugs. Therefore, Chhatra Dal’s debacle in the student union elections at Dhaka and Jahangirnagar Universities came as no surprise to me.
New Age, 2025
If we consider the hajj and umrah gatherings in Makkah and Madinah as a microcosm of global Musli... more If we consider the hajj and umrah gatherings in Makkah and Madinah as a microcosm of global Muslim communities, it can be safely said that English is the common language that has become their language of choice and unites them as one people. English stands out as the most important lingua franca for communication between Muslims from diverse linguistic backgrounds — linguistically, it helps bring the global Muslim community together.
New Age, 2025
Bangladesh should decide whether to be on the front foot heralding transformative changes and del... more Bangladesh should decide whether to be on the front foot heralding transformative changes and delving into fresh possibilities, or on the back foot regressing to where it was before August 5, 2024. The forces that sought to turn our attention away from the here and the now will always try to take us back to the old days and ways. So, the battle is not truly over. But the young people have learnt to rebel and take charge of their affairs. It will be difficult to deceive them through known strategies of selective memory and selective amnesia. It is the spirit of the July Revolution that we hope will guide us to a better future.
The Daily Star, 2025
On July 15, 2024, Sokal took to the streets with her friends. When their procession came to Dhaka... more On July 15, 2024, Sokal took to the streets with her friends. When their procession came to Dhaka University's VC Chattor (square), Chhatra League hooligans and hired miscreants swooped down on it and started attacking protesters with iron rods, machetes, hockey sticks, and other weapons. One thug hit Sokal very hard and wedged a dent on her head. She fell on the ground and remained unconscious for the next two and a half hours of which she has no memory at all. She was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
The Daily Star, 2024
Articles, books, dictionaries, encyclopaedia entries, documentaries, etc will describe and charac... more Articles, books, dictionaries, encyclopaedia entries, documentaries, etc will describe and characterise Hasina's rule and record the events surrounding Bangladesh's July 2024 uprising. If July warriors do not participate in this intellectual endeavour to present the real story, perpetrators of epistemic violence will have a monopoly on the narrative and distort the entire phenomenon.
New Age, 2025
Politicians use moments of crisis to seize opportunities to augment their public image and accumu... more Politicians use moments of crisis to seize opportunities to augment their public image and accumulate political dividends. They seek to make a show of philanthropic gestures in order to realise their political objectives. They visit those affected by natural calamities like floods, storms, cyclones and other extreme climate events as well as disasters like plane crashes. If political leaders do not visit those affected by such tragedies, no great harm will come to pass. We will not hold them responsible for catastrophes not caused by their corruption or wrong policies. We want them to help us by stopping being corrupt. We want them to deliver their promises once they are in power.
New Age, 2025
If a Wikipedia entry on a contemporary issue can contain distorted information to such an extent,... more If a Wikipedia entry on a contemporary issue can contain distorted information to such an extent, what about events that took place decades and centuries ago? If a platform like Wikipedia — presumed to be mainstream and impartial — can create such systematic information distortion against Palestinians, what about outlets that are widely perceived as pro-Israeli?
Asiatic, 2025
The Palestinian tragedy meted out by Israeli settler colonial domination has lasted for many deca... more The Palestinian tragedy meted out by Israeli settler colonial domination has lasted for many decades. Increasing Israeli atrocities against Palestinians range from targeted killings and settler violence to mass murders, destruction of builtscapes, and denial of basic necessities of life such as food, water, healthcare, and communication systems. After innumerable episodes of calculated unilateral escalation of military violence against Palestinians, Israel has exhibited an increase in its aggressive behaviour in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Had Edward Said been alive today, he would have taken great interest in interpreting the current events in the region. However, he identified a pattern in Israeli behaviour which has remained unjust to Palestinians since long before the 7 October 2023 event. Israel's characteristic hostility to Palestinians examined by Said helps us understand its genocidal crimes, which this essay explores.
New Age, 2025
Bangladeshis do not have any obsessive liking for Pakistanis or pathological hatred for Indians. ... more Bangladeshis do not have any obsessive liking for Pakistanis or pathological hatred for Indians. Their impression about and relationship with Indians and Pakistanis are determined by their experiences. The 1971 war aside, Bangladeshis’ eyes are wide open to the happenings in the international arena; after all, they observe which country – India or Pakistan – is more ready to stand by Bangladesh. If India/Pakistan is friendly to Bangladesh, people of Bangladesh are grown-up enough to understand it; conversely, if India/Pakistan is hostile to their country, Bangladeshis will know this too. Therefore, it will be an affront to all Bangladeshis to suggest that they are wrong or ill-advised in their (positive or negative) attitude to the people of a particular country.
New Age, 2025
The notion that Islam gives women half of what men inherit is imprecise. The religion gives sons ... more The notion that Islam gives women half of what men inherit is imprecise. The religion gives sons a bigger share of inheritance, as they have to bear greater financial burdens; and it gives women more inheritance when they need more support. It is important to remember that Islamic inheritance law is based on equity, not equality.
The Daily Star, 2025
For decades Indian forces have been killing Bangladeshis at the borders on a regular basis while ... more For decades Indian forces have been killing Bangladeshis at the borders on a regular basis while the relations between the two countries were being described as "golden" during Hasina's rule. Considering these and other examples, Bangladesh was having a relationship with India that was heavily slanted in favour of the latter. Bangladeshis simply wanted this "lopsided" relationship to end. Does this make them anti-Indian?
IslamiCity, 2025
Following in the footsteps of the Prophet, Muslims are required to seek knowledge that is benefic... more Following in the footsteps of the Prophet, Muslims are required to seek knowledge that is beneficial for them and others and should avoid knowledge that is worthless or causes harm or leads to erroneous decisions or lifestyle choices. As long as the goal and purpose of knowledge seeking is the pleasure of God through righteousness, altruism, and beneficence, all branches of knowledge are good and Islamic. Thus, all academic fields are united and come under the purview of tawhidic epistemology.
The Daily Star, 2025
Creating public awareness about the political structure of chandabaji—which is the political mani... more Creating public awareness about the political structure of chandabaji—which is the political manifestation of char dakhal—is important so that, at election times, people can punish politicians who are on the receiving end of chanda (extorted money). As Humayun Kabir and SM Sultan depicted the lawlessness of char dakhal, we need writers and artists to expose the corruption of sleazy politicians and their henchmen involved in chandabaji.
Illegitimacy and Orphanhood in Dickens's Oliver Twist: An Islamic Reading
Dickens Quarterly, 2025
Dickens's novels were inspired by his commitment to social reform and justice, as they were drive... more Dickens's novels were inspired by his commitment to social reform and justice, as they were driven by his quest to find voices to stand up against injustices and to safeguard the rights of the poor and the orphan in Victorian Britain. Such an altruistic artistic strategy of establishing justice for the downtrodden and the welfare of the orphan resonates with Islamic teachings. Given this affinity, in this paper, I shall examine Dickens's treatment of illegitimacy and orphanhood in Oliver Twist through the lens of Islam, including the point that Prophet Muhammad himself was an orphan. Such an interpretation of the novel will inform readers about Islam's take on these social issues which remain highly relevant to our contemporary complex societies.
The Daily Star, 2025
By daring to stay put in the face of death and destruction, for decades Palestinians have been af... more By daring to stay put in the face of death and destruction, for decades Palestinians have been affirming their love for their land and confronting injustice with dignity and resilience. Conversely, the ugliness and hypocrisy stored in the hearts of their oppressors are exposed out there for all to see. While the global conscience is continuously challenged by Israeli aggression, inhumanity and intolerance, as in 1916 Dublin, "a terrible beauty is born" in present-day Gaza and the West Bank.
The Daily Star, 2025
Like Muslim men, Muslim women need to get closer to God through increasing their devotional pract... more Like Muslim men, Muslim women need to get closer to God through increasing their devotional practices in Ramadan. However, if they have to spend long hours in the kitchen to fulfil the illogical culinary demands of family members, how can they engage in prayerful activities and devote more time to reading the Qur'an and performing other righteous deeds? By expecting Muslim women to shoulder the full burden of household chores, caregiving and other domestic responsibilities, Muslim men are turning away from the Prophet's teachings. By the way, if preparing iftar and sehri is a virtuous act, it is so for both Muslim men and women.
The Daily star, 2025
The spectre of repeated Israeli violence in Gaza and the West Bank seems to have attained a sembl... more The spectre of repeated Israeli violence in Gaza and the West Bank seems to have attained a semblance of normality in the face of world leaders' indifference to the suffering of Palestinians. Like "the humble, half-starved" Oliver Twist in Dickens's novel, Palestinians are "despised by all, and pitied by none" of the global powers.
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Papers by Md. Mahmudul Hasan