Entertainment
Outgoing Kosovar envoy calls on state minister for cultural affairs
The outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to Bangladesh Guner Ureya met the State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid at his Secretariat office on Sunday.
The discussion focused on strengthening the cultural interchange between Bangladesh and Kosovo by accelerating the execution of the cultural cooperation agreement between the two nations.
The State Minister said that the draft cultural cooperation agreement between Bangladesh and Kosovo was sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 27, 2023, for the Kosovo government's opinion after receiving the Law Ministry's vetting.
Subsequently, the Government of Kosovo sent the draft agreement incorporating their views through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which the Ministry of Cultural Affairs accepted on 20 September 20, 2023.
Khalid said the draft proposed minor amendments to Article 12 of the Agreement by Kosovo. He added that measures will be taken to send the amendments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after receiving vetting from the Ministry of Law.
He directed the relevant officials of the ministry to complete the process as soon as possible and take the necessary measures to sign the agreement.
The outgoing Ambassador of Kosovo expressed sincere gratitude to the State Minister for Cultural Affairs for the essential cooperation during his responsibilities in Bangladesh, as well as for taking the necessary initiative to sign the agreement rapidly.
He said that since there is no embassy of Bangladesh in Kosovo, diplomatic activities are going on through the embassy of Bangladesh in Berlin, Germany. He wished the state minister good health and all-round success.
Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Subrata Bhowmik, Private Secretary to the State Minister Mohammad Altaf Hossain, Ayesha Siddika, Deputy Secretary Ayesha Siddika, Executive Assistant of the Kosovo Embassy in Dhaka Akhand Surid, and others were in present during the meeting.
3rd Bangladesh Film Festival illuminates Colombo
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Tareq Mohammad Ariful Islam has inaugurated the third Bangladesh Film Festival in Colombo.
He highlighted the resurgence of Bangladeshi cine culture in recent times in the hand of a new generation of talented film directors who are bringing in many international accolades.
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The envoy said such film festivals would foster cultural ties between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
He expressed hope that due to socio-cultural affinities of two countries, Sri Lankan audience would be able to connect deeply with the essence of those movies.
An impressive line up four more contemporary Bangladeshi movies will be screened during the weekend.
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Among them, “Raat Jaga Phool” and “Nona Joker Kabbo” were scheduled to be screened on October 7 respectively at 3:30 pm and 6 pm at the same venue, while “Damal” (at 3:30pm) and “No Dorai” (6pm) will be screened on October 8.
This 3rd version of the festival builds upon the success of the 1st and 2nd editions held in April 2014 and March 2018. This is a part of Bangladesh High Commission's efforts to strengthen cultural relations through cinema.
Inauguration of the 3rd Bangladesh Film Festival unfolded last evening at the prestigious Tharangani Theatre of Sri Lankan National Film Corporation with the screening of internationally acclaimed movie “Rehana Maryam Noor” directed by Abdullah Mohammad Saad. Bangladesh High Commission in Sri Lanka is organizing the Film Festival.
A sizeable cinema crowd including renowned personalities of Sri Lankan cinema and cine connoisseurs braced the heavy rain in Colombo to experience the taste of Bangladeshi movie, said the Bangladesh High Commission in Colombo on Saturday.
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Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayaka, Prof G L Peiris, Patali Champika Ranawaka and Heads of Diplomatic Missions were among the high dignitaries present.
Renowned actress Swarna Mallawarachchi who is known as the Golden Star of Sri Lankan cinema, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Eminent film critic and director Anomaa Rajakaruna as the curator of the festival introduced the movie to the audience before the screening.
Khufiya: All eyes on Badhon
When Azmeri Haque Badhon returned to the screen after a long break, she transformed herself.
It was like a royal comeback. Walking the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, she announced that she would be seen in a Bollywood film. Beyond the Kolkata industry, a Bangladeshi star will be seen in Bollywood films, this is the beginning of a new horizon.
Badhon’s first glimpse in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Khufiya teaser
Badhon made her Bollywood debut with Vishal Bhardwaj “Khufiya” The film was released on Netflix on October 5. It stars Bollywood star Tabu in the lead role. And Badhon shared screen space with her.
Badhon's performance in RMN gets Best Actress nomination at 14th APSA
It is surprising news that a star of Bangladesh will be seen in Bollywood, as well as in the beginning, there was a lot of discussion about it. Sometimes it is positive, sometimes negative. But after the release of “Khufiya”, all the discussion is now at one point. That is, all eyes are stuck on Badhon.
In Bollywood cinema, stories about agents are like rice and water. It is the same Pakistan-India rivalry. But that is not the case in “Khufiya”. Vishal Bhardwaj tells a different story, in a different way.
Azmeri Haque Badhon: Starring the Title Role of 'Rehana Maryam Noor' Film Premiered in 74th Cannes
“Khufiya” starts with a surprise from Badhon. It may not be right to tell any of the stories. Because from start to finish, the movie will raise a lot of questions that will be answered. But let me just say that Bandhon is at the heart of the story and around her many of the roots of the story go.
India, Bangladesh and the United States are in the context of the incident. Bandhon will be seen in “Khufiya” as a girl from Bangladesh. The story begins with her. The star will be seen for quite some time in the beginning. She is also in different parts throughout the film.
Since she is acting in a Bollywood film, she shares screen space with Tabu. Naturally, the challenge was a lot. Bandhon may have landed in that place. Every scene shows a natural bond. There was no extra expression, no attempt to do anything extra. And her confidence in the character is commendable.
After Badhon’s commendable debut in Bollywood, it is expected that the star will be seen more in the Mumbai industry. And that is a new wait for her fans.
“Khufiya” is based on Amar Bhushan's popular spy novel “Escape to Nowhere”. The film also stars Ali Fazal, Ashish Vidyarthi, Wamika Gabbi and others.
Bongo BD presents heartwarming love story of two nameless tourists in "Hello Stranger"
Bongo BD is set to captivate its viewers with a heartwarming Thai love story, "Hello Stranger." This charming film portrays the delightful encounter of two young tourists who meet abroad and embark on a journey of friendship and romance, all while keeping their identities a secret.
Despite the language barrier, Bongo BD has taken the initiative to offer the official Bengali version of "Hello Stranger" to cater to its diverse audience. The response to this romantic gem from various genres has been overwhelmingly positive, promising an unforgettable cinematic experience.
Bongo BD is renowned for delivering top-notch entertainment to its viewers, and "Hello Stranger" is no exception. The film beautifully unfolds the tale of two young souls exploring Korea, weaving a heartwarming narrative that is sure to resonate with audiences of all ages.
Starting from October 6th, "Hello Stranger" will be available for streaming on the Bongo platform. To embark on this extraordinary journey of love and discovery, simply download the Bongo app from your mobile's Google Play Store or App Store.
Rapper Aly Hasan collaborates with Toffee for World Cup song
Aiming to add some extra flares in the ICC World Cup 2023 festivities, entertainment streaming site Toffee released a new rap music video on Thursday, in collaboration with popular rapper Aly Hasan.
The song, titled "Toffee-te Cricket Bishwo Cup Dekhbe Bangladesh" (Bangladesh will enjoy Cricket World Cup in Toffee) is now available to stream on the social media platforms of Toffee.
The music video of the song is directed by musician-creative director Arafat Mohsin Nidhi.
This World Cup, Toffee is offering cricket lovers across the country the opportunity to enjoy all the World Cup matches.
Muhammad Abul Khair Chowdhury, marketing deputy director, Toffee, Banglalink, said: "Toffee is known for its cutting-edge technology and seamless streaming capabilities. We are delighted to release the music video to showcase Toffee’s streaming superiority contextually and creatively. Moreover, we hope it will add to the craze of World Cup celebrations across the country."
Toffee offers a wide range of content, most importantly its seamless streaming of live TV channels, national-international TV dramas and web series, user-generated content and more.
The app is available on the Google Play Store for Android device users and on the App Store for iOS users.
David Beckham’s highly-publicised alleged affair ‘hardest period’ of marriage, Victoria says
Victoria Beckham has talked openly about her husband David’s much-reported alleged affair, calling it the “hardest period” of their marriage.
Previously, the pair refuted allegations that David had an affair while playing for Real Madrid in 2003, reports BBC.
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“It was the hardest period for us because it felt like the world was against us,” said the former Spice Girl in a new Netflix documentary.
“Here’s the thing – we were against each other if I’m completely honest,” she added.
The couple did not reveal the facts of what transpired in the documentary, “Beckham,” which was released on Wednesday, added the report.
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“You know, up until Madrid, sometimes it felt like us against everybody else. But we were together, we were connected, we had each other,” said Victoria.
“But when we were in Spain, it didn’t really feel like we had each other either. And that’s sad,” she added.
“I can't even begin to tell you how hard it was and how it affected me,” she went on saying.
“It was a nightmare. From the minute we opened the press there were cars and everywhere we went, we were followed,” She mentioned the public attention she received after she and her children relocated to Spain to join her spouse.
“It was an absolute circus – it’s really entertaining when the circus comes to town right? Unless you’re in it,” Victoria said.
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When asked if she despised her husband at the time, the singer-turned-designer answered, “If I’m being completely honest, yes I did.”
“It was probably, if I’m being honest, the most unhappy I have ever been in my entire life,” she said.
In the series, David, the former England and Manchester United player, who is now the owner of Inter Miami, also discussed how the rumours about his extramarital romance affected him and his family.
“There were some horrible stories that were difficult to deal with,” he said. “It was the first time that me and Victoria had been put under that kind of pressure in our marriage.
“I think we both felt at the time that we were, not losing each other, but drowning.”
“I don't know how we got through it, in all honesty,” he added.
David and Victoria, who married in 1999, and their four children attended the series’ London premiere on Tuesday.
Ganga-Jamuna Cultural Festival’s 12th edition to begin Friday
The 12th edition of the ‘Ganga-Jamuna Cultural Festival’ is all set to enthrall audiences from October 6 to October 17 at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) and Mahila Samiti in the capital.
Known as one of the major cultural festivals in the country, the 2023 edition of this festival will showcase the performances of 145 troupes from both Bangladesh and India, representing a wide range of creative disciplines including theatre, dance, recitation, music, and more.
This year, an estimated 4,000 performers are expected to attend, making it one of the largest cultural festivals in the subcontinent as well, the organisers of the festival told a press conference on Wednesday at BSA’s National Theatre Hall seminar room.
The festival will be inaugurated by eminent thespian and cultural personality Ramendu Majumdar at the National Theatre Hall of BSA on October 6, Friday. State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid will be present as the chief guest.
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The inauguration ceremony will be presided over by Sammilita Sangskritik Jote President Golam Kuddus. Former Cultural Affairs Minister and eminent actor Asaduzzaman Noor, prominent thespian Mamunur Rashid and BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky will deliver speeches at the inauguration ceremony.
On the opening day, the drama troupe Theatre will showcase its popular play ‘Meraj Fokirer Ma’ at the National Theatre Hall after the inauguration ceremony, while Batighor will stage ‘Bhogoban Paliye Gechhe’ at the Experimental Theatre Hall; and Ekota Nattyagoshthi, Kishoreganj will showcase its play ‘1971’ at the Studio Theatre Hall.
Several renowned Indian theatre troupes, namely Onik, Ajker Projonmo, Gobordanga Noksha, Dolls Theatre and others will participate and showcase their theatrical and cultural performances in the festival.
Live cultural performances will be showcased every day from 4 pm to 6:30 pm at BSA’s Mukta Mancha, while the theatre productions will be presented every day at 7 pm at the three aforementioned BSA venues and Bangladesh Mohila Samity’s Neelima Ibrahim Auditorium.
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The festival is launching online tickets for the first time and tickets for stage dramas will be available online at www.bdeticket.com. Additionally, tickets can be purchased at the hall counters from 4 pm onwards, the organizers said at the press conference.
The festival will be concluded on October 17.
TikTok Shop Indonesia stops to comply with the country's ban of e-commerce on social media platforms
TikTok said it will halt its online retail operation in Indonesia on Wednesday to comply with the country’s decision to ban e-commerce transactions on social media platforms — a big blow to the video platform's fastest-growing market.
The Indonesian government announced the new regulation, which prohibits social media companies from facilitating sales of products on their platforms, on Sept. 28 in a bid to protect small businesses from e-commerce competition, accusing the popular apps and websites of predatory pricing.
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The Chinese-owned video sharing app said in a statement it will stop facilitating e-commerce sales in TikTok Shop Indonesia by 5 p.m. Wednesday.
“Our priority is to remain compliant with local laws and regulations,” said the statement released Tuesday on its website.
Indonesia’s Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan said the ban aims to “prevent the domination of the algorithm and prevent the use of personal data in business interests" and "create a fair, healthy and beneficial electronic commerce ecosystem,” according to a statement released by the Trade Ministry when the ban was announced. It said marketplaces and sellers can only offer or promote goods and services.
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A week before the ban was announced, Southeast Asia’s largest wholesale market, Tanah Abang, came under inspection. Sellers at the market in the capital, Jakarta, were experiencing a more than 50% loss of profits because they could not compete with imported products sold online at much lower prices, according to Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Teten Masduki.
He said TikTok was involved in predatory pricing that caused damages to local small- and medium-sized businesses, and that the new regulation “will justly regulate fair trade online and offline.”
Days after the ban was announced, TikTok Indonesia said it regretted the government’s decision — particularly the impact it would have on the millions of sellers who use TikTok Shop. But the company said it will respect the regulations and “will take a constructive path forward."
Southeast Asia, a region home to more than 675 million people, is one of TikTok’s biggest markets in terms of user numbers, generating more than 325 million visitors to the app every month.
Read: China appeals for fair treatment after latest TikTok bans
TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, is also facing scrutiny from some governments and regulators because of concerns that Beijing could use the app to harvest user data or advance its interests. Countries including the United States, Britain and New Zealand have banned the app on government phones, despite TikTok repeatedly denying that it has ever shared data with the Chinese government and would not do so if asked.
Sridevi’s accidental death: Husband Boney Kapoor says this was the cause
Bollywood producer Boney Kapoor has finally spoken out about his late wife, actor Sridevi’s death.Sridevi died in her hotel room in Dubai from accidental drowning on February 24, 2018. She was 54 at the time.
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Kapoor told The New Indian that Sridevi used to maintain a “rigid diet,” reports NDTV.The producer also discussed his questioning and lie detector test following Sridevi's death, it said.“It was not a natural death, it was an accidental death. I thought I would never speak about it because I spoke about it for almost 24-48 hours together, when I was being investigated and interrogated and that is how I got a clean chit from the Dubai police. In fact, the officer said that we had to do this, we had to go through this because there was a lot of pressure from the Indian media. They discovered there was no foul play. I went through all the interrogation, including the lie detector. The report which came clearly stated that it was an accidental death by drowning,” said Kapoor.
Also read: Don 3: Bollywood’s New Don Ranveer Singh Replaces Shah Rukh KhanSridevi used to have “blackouts” as a result of her no-salt diet, he said. Despite the doctor's advice to avoid a severe low-salt diet due to her low blood pressure, the actor was still following one of the same routines at the time of her death, Kapoor revealed.“Our family physician always used to tell Sri (Sridevi) whenever you diet, because whenever she used to start a new film, she used to want to look good because the fact is what you are in real life, on-screen especially for cinemascope you will look broader. She wanted to make sure that she is chiselled, in good shape so that on screen she also looks like it,” he said. “Since the time she was married to me, she has had blackouts on a couple of occasions. The doctor kept on telling her that you have a low BP issue, don't stick to a severe diet where you avoid salt. Because most of the females believe that salt creates water retention that's why your face is puffy. That is one reason why Sri used to avoid salt. We used to tell her that even if you are having some salad, just sprinkle some salt on it,” he continued.“Later, when she passed away Nagarjuna had come home to offer his condolences. He told me that during one of his shootings, she was again on a crash diet and how she fell in the bathroom and broke her teeth. I knew she had broken teeth and had those artificial casps,” the producer recalled.
Also read: Bollywood superstar Alia Bhatt makes her Hollywood debut in Netflix's 'Heart of Stone'“Since I got married to her I knew she has this tendency of going on a strict diet, I used to push my daughters to tell her that she must have some salt. I used to push her myself. Whenever we used to go out for dinner, she used to say, ‘food with no salt.'” Kapoor recalled.Sridevi and Boney Kapoor married in 1996. Their first daughter Janhvi was born in 1997, while Khushi was born in November 2000.
Rockstar James celebrates 59th birthday
The music industry and concert scene in Bangladesh are highly indebted to some of the legendary rock icons who performed their hearts out to enamour music lovers with their musical offerings. Among them, one special name is the National Award-winning rock icon Faruq Mahfuz Anam James, popularly known as "Nagar Baul James" and "Guru", who turned 59 on Monday.
To date, music lovers get amped and geared up for any new concert spectacles in the country or anywhere in the world if the concert has James headlining with his electrifying performances. His name not only sells tickets but always ensures that the concertgoers are guaranteed to have marquee memories.
After 'I Love You,' James' new song coming soon
On the legendary rockstar’s 59th birthday, his friends in the industry and fans-admirers across the world showered him with tremendous respect and affection across the world and also on virtual platforms, sharing photographs and emotional posts on social media platforms regarding their celebrations and memories of attending his concerts.
"Nagar Baul," drummer and friend Ahasan Elahi Fanty, shared a couple of photos with James celebrating his birthday, wishing him prosperity with prayers. Many other prominent music artists and bands, including Shunno and others, have also wished the rockstar on his birthday.
Born in 1964 in Naogaon of Rajshahi, James was brought up in Chattogram due to his father Mojammel Haque's work who later became the Chairman of the Dhaka Education Board. His family did not approve of his wish to become a music artist; thus, he left home in 1976 and started living at Aziz Boarding in Pahartali.
Without the approval of his family, James started his profound journey in music in his youth during the late 1970's. He formed his band "Feelings" in 1977 as the vocal and lead guitarist and released the band's first album, "Station Road," in 1987. The band was later renamed "Nagar Baul", a moniker that James has also adopted as the music artist.
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Besides the other two companions, LRB and ARK, in the "Big Three of Bangladeshi Rock" in the 90's era in the Bangladeshi music industry, James garnered immense popularity among fans all over the world with his versatile style in psychedelic rock. He has also established his legacy as a solo artist and a successful playback singer in both Dhallywood and Bollywood.
In 2006, he debuted in Bollywood as a playback singer in Anurag Basu's film "Gangstar", and his journey in Bollywood was continued with three other films: 'Woh Lamhe' (2006), '"Life... in a Metro" (2007), and "Warning" (2013).
In his motherland, James received the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer twice for the films "Desha: The Leader" (2014) and "Swatta" (2017). As a solo artist, he has released a total of eight albums and many mixed albums with renowned artists from Bangladesh.
"Taray Taray Rotiye Debo" (penned by legendary poet Shamsur Rahman), "Maa", "Bangladesh", "Pagla Hawaa", "Dushtu Chheler Dol", "Guru Ghor Banaila Ki Diya", and "Mirabai" are some of James's iconic Bengali rock numbers that cemented his legacy as 'Guru' to his fans all over the world.
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Besides being the most iconic living legend in the country’s rock scene, James has also proved his versatility in other mediums as a photographer and media entrepreneur. He is the founder and chairman of the board of the renowned Bangladeshi production house, Red Dot Entertainment.