BOOK TALK

On 27 June 2026, a book talk on the monograph Rafiq Azam: Old Dhaka, New Story: Architecture in Bangladesh, edited by Rosa Maria Falvo and published by Rizzoli New York, was held at Tu'Do Café. The special event was hosted by Tu'Do Café and organized by Bookworm, under the coordination of Amina Rahman, owner of Bookworm, with sponsorship from Securex's Voices Shaping Society initiative. The evening was further enriched by the presence of Mr. Farhan Quddus, Managing Director of Securex, who graciously served as the Master of Ceremonies.

The evening featured an engaging panel discussion moderated by Prof. Fuad H. Mallick, Professor and Dean of the School of Architecture and Design at BRAC University. The discussion brought together Saymon Zakaria—playwright, cultural personality, folk researcher, and Deputy Director of the Department of Research at Bangla Academy—and Shankha DasGupta, Bangladeshi filmmaker. Centered on the theme "Green and Aquarius Dhaka," the panel reflected on the ideas explored in the publication and engaged the audience in a thought-provoking conversation on architecture, heritage, culture, water, ecology, and the evolving identity of Bangladesh's built environment.

Adding a poetic dimension to the evening, Saymon Zakaria recited a poem dedicated to and inspired by Prof. Rafiq Azam. The audience also enjoyed a screening of Between Earth and Light, a docu-fiction film that offers an intimate reflection on the architect's life, philosophy, and body of work.

Among the distinguished guests were Prof. Shamsul Wares, former Professor in the Department of Architecture at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET); His Excellency Gabriel María Sistiaga Ochoa de Chinchetru, Ambassador of Spain to Bangladesh; Ar. Jalal Ahmed, Dhaka Coordinator of the Connecting Creativity initiative and Vice President of the Commonwealth Association of Architects; and Durjoy Rahman, art connoisseur and Global Coordinator of the international book launch series Connecting Creativity.

The event concluded as a meaningful celebration of architecture as a medium for storytelling, cultural continuity, and contemporary discourse, bringing together architects, academics, writers, artists, and readers in an inspiring exchange of ideas.