UK
London Hosts Launch of Three Bangladeshi Literary Works and New Online Bookshop: A celebration of Bangla literature and publishing took place in London with the unveiling of three books published by Panjeree Publications and the launch of a new online bookshop serving readers across Britain and Europe.
The literary event was held Saturday at the Pinter Studio of Queen Mary University of London, bringing together writers, poets, journalists, academics, cultural activists and members of the wider literary community.
The programme featured the unveiling of Selected Poetry Collection Volumes 1 and 2 by poet Shamim Azad and the novel “Agni Sarasera” by poet and fiction writer Milton Rahman.
The event was moderated by veteran journalist and media personality Urmi Mazhar. Kamrul Hasan Shayek, Managing Director of Panjeree Publications, delivered the keynote discussion on the featured books.
Discussing Agni Sarasera, Shayek described the novel as a journey from grassroots life toward global politics, centred on a young person searching for a new state and a new political philosophy. Poet Faruk Ahmed Rony presented a paper on Shamim Azad’s two poetry collections, describing her as a poet whose work extends beyond Britain to a wider global Bangla literary identity.
Veteran journalist Syed Badrul Ahsan praised the books as new and distinctive contributions to Bangla literature. Syed Samadul Haque, Chairman of Bangla TV, described Agni Sarasera as a deeply considered novel and highlighted Shamim Azad’s longstanding emphasis on humanity in her poetry.
Other speakers included poets Hamid Mohammad, Stephen Watts and Mohammad Iqbal, President of the Sammilito Sahitya O Sanskritik Parishad.
The literary programme also featured poetry recitations by Samar Das, Nazrul Islam Akib and Smriti Azad. Selected passages from Milton Rahman’s novel were performed by vocal artists Munira Parveen, Anika Tasnim Tapashi and Rina Das.
Online Bookshop Opens for UK and European Readers
The second part of the programme marked the launch of a new online bookshop, established through a joint initiative involving Audiogram and PBS Books.
The initiative is designed to give readers in Britain and Europe easier access to Bangla books published in Bangladesh and West Bengal.
PBS Books is the online book platform associated with Panjeree Publications, offering Bangla books through its digital marketplace.
Website: PBS Books — www.pbs.com.bd
Selina Shelley, Coordinator of Audiogram, said readers in Britain and Europe would now be able to purchase books online through the platform. Orders can be placed through the website as well as Facebook, email and WhatsApp.
The initiative also plans to publish books by writers based in Britain and Europe every year, creating an additional platform for diaspora authors to reach readers.
Representing PBS, Kamrul Hasan Shayek said the online bookshop would provide access to books from Panjeree Publications and other publishers in Bangladesh and West Bengal, making a wider selection of Bangla literature available to readers across Britain and Europe.
The launch reflects the growing role of the Bangladeshi diaspora in preserving, promoting and expanding Bangla literature internationally. By combining traditional publishing with digital distribution, the new initiative aims to make books more accessible to a new generation of readers while strengthening connections between Bangladeshi, West Bengali and diaspora writers.
The London event therefore served not only as a literary gathering but also as a step toward building a broader global marketplace and cultural platform for Bangla books and authors.
