Indigenous Cultural Festival in Rangamati At the inaugural function of the three-day 11th Chittagong Hill Tracts Indigenous Cultural Festival, chief guest Chakma Raja Devasish Roy said that the 11 ethnic communities living in the hill tracts have distinct cultures and languages. The opulent traditions of the indigenous people have enriched the national culture. So, they ... Read more
Art & Culture
Ushering In 1419
Celebrating the biggest Bengali secular festival The nation celebrated ‘Pahela Baishakh’, the first day of the Bangla year 1419, last Saturday amidst vibrant pageantry, leaving behind the gloom of the past and pledging to uphold the nation’s opulent cultural heritage. Hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life, in traditional clothes, poured into ... Read more
Dhaka Art Summit inaugurated
The four-day Dhaka Art Summit was inaugurated on Thursday in the presence of art representatives, artists, art critics and gallery owners from across the world and from Bangladesh as well. Organised by Samdani Art Foundation, the opening ceremony was held at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Describing the DAS as a pioneer ... Read more
Pandit Ramkanai Das on music, recent ventures
Pundit Ramkanai Das is one of the renowned classical music artistes of Bangladesh. However, being a true music maestro, he is also equally proficient in traditional music and Tagore songs. In an interview with New Age the musical genius shared his thoughts on both genres of music and information about his current activities. ‘There are ... Read more
Artists should explore in various mediums: Selim
Artist Lala Rukh Selim, associate professor of the sculpture department at the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University, talks about the perception of sculpture art and the status of the local sculpture scene in Bangladesh, in a recent interview with New Age. The artist/academic is the lead partner from Bangladesh for the three-year exchange ... Read more
Bangladesh Street Theatre Festival begins
Organised by Bangladesh Patho Natok Parishad, a weeklong street theatre festival has begun on March 1. The festival was inaugurated at the Central Shaheed Minar premises in Dhaka. Plays are being staged at the amphitheatre inside Suhrawardi Udyan since yesterday. Sculptor Ferdausi Priobhashini formally inaugurated the festival. Director general of Bangaldesh Shilpakala Academy
Western approach, Bangladeshi soul
Sadik Ahmed talks about “The Last Thakur” A stranger arrives in a small town, poised to quell a long-standing feud, but it soon becomes apparent that he has his own vendetta to resolve. “The Last Thakur”, a British-Bangladeshi film belonging to the Western genre, is the story of a lone gunman who is in search ... Read more
Mayor Theatre Festival in Rajshahi begins
The Mayor Theatre Festival started in Rajshahi on Friday evening, celebrating its 2nd anniversary with an array of plays for local theatre enthusiasts. The eight-day festival brings eight theatre groups from around the country to Rajshahi Medical College Auditorium to present a wide variety of plays including “Noshto Neer” by Dhaka Theatre, “Uttorkhona” by Anushilon ... Read more
Shilpakala Academy Celebrates 38th Anniversary
Two-day programme begins today Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy–the premier cultural organisation of the country– celebrates its 38th founding anniversary this year. To practice and uphold local culture and to manifest and evaluate the artistes, the academy was established under the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Act 1974. Now the Academy is functioning under the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Ordinance ... Read more
First World Bengali Conference to begin in Dhaka tomorrow
For the first time World Bengali Conference is going to be held in Dhaka. The three-day conference will be inaugurated at Osmani Memorial Auditorium at 10:30 am on February 19. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be the chief guest while Nobel laureate Dr. Amartya Sen will be a special guest at the inaugural programme. A ... Read more
12th Dhaka Int’l Film Fest Begins Today
Guerrilla, Moner Manush Compete For Top Prize Nasiruddin Yousuff’s “Guerrilla” and Gautam Ghosh’s “Moner Manush” are among 17 films competing for the top honour at the 12th Dhaka International Film Festival, which begins today in the city. The competition segment features four Iranian, three each from India and Turkey, and two Bangladeshi films. They are: ... Read more
Tribute to a master painter
Weeklong Sultan Mela-2012 begins in Narail The weeklong Sultan Mela-2012, marking the 87th birth anniversary of noted artist SM Sultan, began at Sultan Moncho premises in Narail on December 9. Jointly organised by the SM Sultan Foundation and the district administration, the fair is sponsored by Grameen Phone and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. The ... Read more
MF Husain’s art show in Dhaka
It is a great occasion for art lovers in Dhaka to watch the iconic Indian artist Maqbool Fida Hosain’s solo exhibition. Gallery Basilio at New DOHS has organised the exhibition, titled Artist of the Century, to quench the thirst of those who have long desired to see Fida Husain’s great series such as Madhuri, Gaja ... Read more
Tgore dominates theatre, cultural shows
It will not be an exaggeration to say that the year 2011 was the year of celebrating Tagore, marking the Nobel Laureate poet’s sesquicentennial birth anniversary. Following the joint India-Bangladesh birth anniversary celebration plan, a remarkable number of cultural programmes featuring music, dance and theatre were organised with participation of leading artistes of the country. ... Read more
Tribute to a titan
Zainul Abedin’s 97th birth anniversary observed Yesterday marked the 97th birth anniversary of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin (1914-1976). The Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka and several cultural organisations have arranged programmes to celebrate the birth anniversary of the maestro. On the occasion, a three-day long festival is now on at the Charukala (Faculty of ... Read more
A poem turns saviour against tyranny
BNAP celebrates 90 years of Nazrul’s “Bidrohi” Bangladesh Nazrul Abritti Parishad (BNAP) celebrated 90years of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam’s poem “Bidrohi” (The Rebel) written during the last week of December 1921. A creative genius, his poetic work caused patriots to rise up against colonial rule in unison and gave a taste of freedom to ... Read more
Shahabuddin’s paintings: Rooted in 1971
Shamsul Wares Liberation War, in which Shahabuddin Ahmed actively participated as a freedom fighter at the age of 21 — the massacre of innocent people, shocking personal experience of being caught up between life and death, fierce resistance of freedom fighters and the ultimate victory — seems to form his emotional built as a painter. ... Read more
Of experiments and creativity
Monirul Islam’s solo painting exhibition at Bengal Art Lounge “When I’m engrossed in painting, I lose myself. Without fear, I might even destroy the image or create a new pattern, as the painting takes over me; I believe each painting has a life of its own,” says Monirul Islam, renowned Bangladeshi painter. Islam’s latest painting ... Read more
Weeklong Bijoy Utshab at Liberation War Museum
A weeklong ‘Bijoy Utshab’ (Victory celebration), titled ‘Manobadhikar Dibosh Thekey Bijoy Dibosh’ (From Human Rights Day to Victory Day) is on at the Liberation War Museum (LWM) premises in Dhaka. The festival opened on December 10 and will continue till Victory Day (December 16). One of the trustees of LWM, Mafidul Haque, delivered a welcome ... Read more
Season-based theatre fest begins in Ctg
A six-day theatre festival titled Magh Nishither Natok began yesterday at Theatre Institute in Chittagong. Arranged by Ritubhittik Natyamela Parishad, the theatre festival will be featuring a reunion of theatre activists, exhibition, open discussion, staging of plays, conferring of Sukhendu Smriti Natyapadak and more. This year’s Sukhendu Smriti Natyapadak