PICT Book Receives Local Editions in Bangladesh

Pinaki Bhattacharya’s Fulkumari: The Tale of a Refugee and a Rat in Pandemic Paris (PICT Books, 2025) will be published in Bengali translation as well as a local English edition in Bangladesh, the author’s home country. The two books will appear from Oitijjhya and its English-language subsidiary, Gripper Mark, in February 2025. The local English edition will be released in solidarity with Bangladeshi readers who may not be able to access the PICT Books original.

Pinaki had to leave Bangladesh in 2019 due to his human rights activism and currently resides in Paris, France, from where his online commentary on Bangladeshi current affairs has attracted a following of millions in his home country and abroad. He is the author of nineteen previous books that span a broad range of topics from the history of Bangladesh to the philosophy of René Descartes and the poetry of Rabindranath Tagore. Through his online presence, Pinaki played a crucial role in mobilizing the July-August Revolution of 2024 which toppled the fascist regime that had ruled Bangladesh for more than a decade.

Fulkumari: The Tale of a Refugee and a Rat in Pandemic Paris tells the fictionalized story of Pinaki’s encounters with a rat under pandemic lockdown in his Paris apartment. Pinaki names the rat Fulkumari and forms an imaginary pact with her, reminiscent of the Arabian Nights. Telling her a story each day, he unravels the layers of his past. Tales of revolution, famine, and civil war intertwine with the poetry, philosophy, and myths of an entire culture; precious moments of family intimacy come alive in flavors, smells, and sounds. As the bond between refugee and rat strengthens, each story becomes a thread in a tapestry of meaning, bravely reaffirming a world on the verge of falling apart.

One of the leading Bangladeshi publishing houses, Oitijjhya has released over 1700 titles since its foundation in 2000. Oitijjhya also operates the Nirbachito chain of dedicated bookstores, occupies the largest pavilion at the Ekushey Book Fair, Bangladesh’s largest literary event, and represents Bengali literature at the Kolkata Book Fair in India. The publishing house has won numerous awards, in particular for its efforts to preserve the legacy of Bengali literature by publishing the collected works of iconic Bengali writers.

As part of its agreement with Oitijjhya, PICT Books will publish the international edition of Fulkumari’s Bengali translation later in 2025.

We wish Pinaki and everyone at PICT Books, Oitijjhya, and Gripper Mark the best of success on this pioneering publishing adventure!

Fulkumari is a #1 Amazon Bestseller and has received extensive coverage in the Bangladeshi media – find out more!

Get your copy of Fulkumari at this link!

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