Dhaka: Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) and The University Press Limited (UPL) jointly launched the Bangla translation of Honey Hunter, an illustrated book for children written by French​poet Khartika Nair and illustrated by Joëlle Jolivet on 31 October 2015 at La Galerie in AFD. After the book launch, BotTala, a performance art troupe, staged ‘Modhu Shikari’.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, ambassador of France to Bangladesh Sophie Aubert, and AFD vice-president Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah were among the guests present at the ceremony.

The story of Honey Hunter begins in the Sundarban where three rivers meet in the mangrove forest. Everyone who lives in the Sundarban loves honey, but one most of all: a small, black-haired boy named Shonu.

One year, due to climate change, the seasons in the Sundarban get mixed up and the region is plagued by powerful cyclones follows by drought and hunger. Shonu becomes so hungry that he sneaks into the mangrove forest and breaks the prime rule: he takes honey from the hives even though it is not yet the harvest time. Shonu doesn’t realise what he has done that can get him into deep trouble.

This modern-day fairy-tale reveals what can happen when someone interferes with nature's rhythm. It teaches children to respect and appreciate the environment. Inspired by Muslim and Hindu myths, author Karthika Naïr and illustrator Joëlle Jolivet have created a compelling narrative style and visual language to tell their tale. The UPL took the initiative to publish the Bangla translation by Shamim Azad. The quality children book is the first of its kind available in Bangladesh and is on sale at AFD.