Dhaka, July 26 (UNB) - A three-day performance art, an important part of New Media art practice, titled ‘Shilper Shohor’ began in the city on Thursday.

Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) Liaquat Ali Lucky inaugurated the art event in the morning.

A total of 16 artistes from Bangladesh are performing in different places of the city.

‘Shilper Shohor’ is shedding light on the city of Dhaka and its 400-year glorious history together with the prominent culture of Bangladesh.

The initiative planned by Liaquat Ali is taking place to revisit the glorious heritage of Dhaka, and to stir up the artistic conscience among the megacity dwellers.

Different activities, including renditions by Baul singers and cultural performances by child artistes, are being held at various places in the capital.

The event is going to be the main theme of the upcoming 18th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh (AABB) scheduled to be held in September in Dhaka for the very first time.
 

Los Angeles, July 21 (AP/UNB) — James Gunn was fired Friday as director of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" because of old tweets that recently emerged where he joked about subjects like pedophilia and rape.

Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn announced the removal.

"The offensive attitudes and statements discovered on James' Twitter feed are indefensible and inconsistent with our studio's values, and we have severed our business relationship with him," Horn said in a statement.

Gunn has been writer and director of the "Guardians of the Galaxy" franchise from the start, taking an obscure Marvel Comics title about a group of multicolored misfits and turning it into a space opera decked with comedy and retro music that made Chris Pratt a major movie star. Through two installments the franchise has brought in more than $1.5 billion in global box office.

Gunn apologized for the old tweets Friday after his firing, echoing similar sentiments he expressed on Twitter a day earlier.

"My words of nearly a decade ago were, at the time, totally failed and unfortunate efforts to be provocative. I have regretted them for many years since — not just because they were stupid, not at all funny, wildly insensitive, and certainly not provocative like I had hoped, but also because they don't reflect the person I am today or have been for some time," Gunn said in a statement. "Regardless of how much time has passed, I understand and accept the business decisions taken today. Even these many years later, I take full responsibility for the way I conducted myself then."

Gunn's current Twitter account is heavy on left-leaning politics, and some on the right with whom he'd sparred found and promoted the tweets from 2008 to 2011 that led to his firing.

Disney did not announce a replacement director for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3." Gunn had been writing the script and it's not clear how far along he was or whether new writers will be brought in. Marvel Studios has not announced a release date, though Gunn had said 2020 was the target.

Marvel has staked a lot on the third "Guardians" movie. Gunn has said the film would end the current iteration of the Guardians of the Galaxy and launch another decade, or more, of Marvel films.

In addition to Pratt, the "Guardians" franchise stars Zoe Saldana and Dave Bautista, and features the voices of Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel.

The characters also were an essential part of this year's Disney and Marvel megahit "Avengers: Infinity War."

Fans at Comic-Con in San Diego said they disapproved of Gunn's tweets, but were mixed on how they felt about his firing.

"It's unfortunate to hear and makes me question whether I would see a movie like that even without his creative involvement," Mario Panighetti of Mountain View, California said.

Joanne Renda of Toronto said, "It's never really funny to joke about that stuff, but copping to it is the first step. Everyone deserves a second chance. It's kind of crazy our culture today, firing people right away."

Dhaka, Jul 19 (UNB)- Chanchal Chowdhury and Joya Ahsan starrer ‘Devi’, a theatrical adaptation of Humayun Ahmed’s novel of same name, gets it second teaser trailer released on Thursday.

Jazz Multimedia, the production house of the movie has unveiled the teaser video on official Facebook page of ‘Devi’ and on their Youtube channel as well.

First look of the protagonist ‘Misir Ali’, a phenomenal creation of Humayun Ahmed beloved by millions, is revealed in the video portrayed by Chanchal Chowdhury.

The 56 seconds long video shows a gloomy Dhaka with Misir Ali in foreground. With a fresh take on the character; Chanchal is seen in casual apparels with white hairs, high powered glasses and time to time smoking or meddling with a string.

Parts of the video are shot in Dhaka University, Hatirjhil and many prominent city locations.

Release date of the movie is yet to be known.

‘Devi’ is directed by Anam Biswas and the cast includes Chanchal Chowdhury, Joya Ahsan, Animesh Aich, Iresh Zaker and more.

Los Angeles, Jul 18 (AP/UNB) — Destiny's Child singer Michelle Williams says she's seeking help for the depression she has struggled with for years.

Williams said in an Instagram post Tuesday that she has "sought help from a great team of health care professionals."

She gave no specifics on her treatment, and a message left with her manager seeking details was not immediately returned.

Williams' post says that for years she has dedicated herself to increasing awareness of mental health and empowering people to seek help. She says she recently decided to listen to the advice she has given, and wants to lead by example in seeking treatment.

The 37-year-old Williams was a core member of Destiny's Child, the trio with Beyonce Knowles and Kelly Rowland that sat atop the R&B world from 1997 to 2006.

Dhaka, July 11 (UNB) - UN human rights experts on Wednesday expressed “grave concern” after a court in Myanmar officially charged two Reuters journalists under the 1923 Official Secrets Act in connection with their investigations into a massacre at Inn Din village, Rakhine State.

“We strongly reiterate our call for the immediate and unconditional release of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo and that all charges be dropped,” said special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Yanghee Lee and special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression David Kaye. 

They said the prosecution criminalises investigative journalism reporting on human rights violations in the Rakhine State, issues of the highest public interest, according to a statement received from Geneva. 

The two reporters, who were arrested last December, were charged on Monday with obtaining secret state documents. The Official Secrets Act carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail.

The special rapporteurs previously have urged greater press freedom after the journalists’ detention and called on the Government of Myanmar to drop the prosecution charges.

“We are also deeply troubled that Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo are held in deplorable conditions - incommunicado at the outset of their detention, and now lack access to medical treatment and sleep deprivation.”

The UN experts urged Myanmar to respect press freedom and the public’s right to know, so that journalists can carry out their duties freely and safely. 

They also called for the review and ultimate revision of the Official Secrets Act in line with Myanmar’s obligations under international law. 

The special rapporteurs will continue to be in contact with the Myanmar authorities concerning the case, reads the statement.