Reading Carnivore
On December 11, 2025, the Department of English and Humanities at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) organized an online book discussion on the novel Carnivore by Dr. K. Anis Ahmed. The session was moderated by Mr. Oliur Rahman and featured a panel of student discussants who offered critical, philosophical, and socio-political readings of the text. The event fostered an engaging intellectual exchange among faculty members, students, and the author.
The program commenced with Mr. Oliur Rahman formally introducing the author and the discussants. This was followed by an introductory speech by Professor Shamsad Mortuza, Special Advisor to ULAB’s BoT, who provided an overview of the novel and contextualized Dr. Anis Ahmed’s work and literary position. His remarks set the foundation for understanding Carnivore as a novel deeply engaged with contemporary global realities.
Following this, Mr. Rahman offered insights into the geopolitical context of the novel, situating Carnivore within broader discussions of power, inequality, and global capitalism. This framing encouraged the audience to approach the text as a political and ethical commentary rather than solely a work of fiction.
Dr. K. Anis Ahmed began by reading an excerpt from the novel, allowing the audience to engage directly with the tone, language, and thematic intensity of the text. This reading transitioned the discussion into the student-led analytical segment.
The first discussant, Raisa Anan (BA 232), explored cannibalism as an allegory for capitalism, drawing on philosophical and literary references to connect Carnivore with other texts that examine consumption, exploitation, and systemic violence. She highlighted the novel’s unexpected plot developments and argued that these twists distinguish it from conventional narratives addressing similar themes.
Mahdi Tanisha Mahmud (BA 243) focused on immigrant experiences and survival ethics. She examined whether extreme actions can be morally justified in the name of survival and questioned whether violence becomes inevitable under oppressive socio-economic conditions. Her discussion emphasized the moral ambiguity that runs throughout the novel.
Tabeen Siddiki (MA 252) then analyzed the structural composition of the novel. He shared his experience of reading the chapters in an alternative order and noted that this disrupted the emotional continuity of the narrative. Reading the chapters sequentially, he argued, enhanced the emotional impact and revealed how each chapter functions as a distinct conceptual unit while still contributing to the overall structure.
Following this, Azeema Anhar (BA 232) discussed the grotesque nature of cannibalism and contemporary readers’ increasing desensitization to violence. She argued that constant exposure to real-life violence – through news of war, fire incidents, accidents, and suicide – has dulled emotional responses. As a result, cannibalism remains one of the few extremes capable of provoking a visceral reaction from readers, compelling them to confront the violence embedded within everyday systems.
Throughout the discussion, the author actively engaged with the discussants, responding to their interpretations and sharing insights into his creative intentions and writing process. His interventions added depth and clarity to the discussion and enriched the interpretive dialogue.
At the conclusion, Professor Kaiser Haq, Dean, School of Arts and Humanities, offered his reflections on the novel and the overall discussion, synthesizing the key themes raised by the panelists and highlighting the significance of the conversation.
Student and faculty audience members had the opportunity to ask questions about the novel’s use of culinary metaphors, the effectiveness of cannibalism as a critique of capitalism, and whether the author’s Bangladeshi identity influenced the novel’s thematic direction. The session maintained a lively atmosphere, marked by frequent food-related wordplay that echoed the novel’s central metaphor.
The discussion concluded with Head of Department, Ms. Arifa Ghani Rahman’s vote of thanks, acknowledging the contributions of the author, moderator, discussants, and participants. The event ended on a light and fitting note, with attendees dispersing for dinner.
Report by Kazi Mehrab Akter (242013037)
