forum was an english-language monthly news and current affairs magazine in bangladesh. it started in 1969 when bangladesh was east pakistan. hameeda hossain and rehman sobhan started the magazine. hossain is a human rights activist. sobhan is an economist. the magazine was against the west pakistani establishment. it was for democracy and economic reforms in the pakistani union. the pakistan army shut down the magazine on 26 march 1971, during the early hours of operation searchlight.