Dhaka, Dec. 27 -- The recent targeting of Chhayanaut, one of Bangladesh's most prominent cultural institutions, is being widely interpreted by cultural historians and political analysts as part of a broader ideological assault on Bengali identity and the secular foundations of the country.
The attacks are not viewed as isolated incidents, but rather as symptoms of a deeper crisis involving the rise of jihadist extremism, political ambiguity, and an erosion of cultural pluralism.
Founded in 1961, Chhayanaut emerged during Pakistan's military rule as a form of cultural resistance.
At a time when Bengali language and artistic expression were discouraged or actively suppressed, the organisation sought to affirm a distinct cultural consciousn...