United News of Bangladesh

Coca-Cola Bangladesh has launched 'Coke Studio Bangla on Campus', an inter-university competition designed to bring the musical experience of Coke Studio Bangla directly to university campuses nationwide. The campaign, which officially kicked off at IUBAT on Monday is scheduled to run through December 1, 2026. This initiative aims to engage students from more than 15 universities across the country through a combination of music, voting, and campus-wide competitions. Participating students who purchase Coca-Cola, Sprite, or Fanta at their campus canteens will receive a scratch card with a unique code. These codes can be redeemed on the official campaign microsite to cast votes for their respective universities. A live leaderboard will track the competition, and the three universities that secure the highest number of votes will win an exclusive Coke Studio Bangla concert on their own campus. In addition to the concert competition, the campaign features a 'Find the Next Campus Performer' initiative. Students can visit a dedicated Coke Studio Bangla Recording Studio Kiosk on campus to record covers of Coke Studio Bangla songs. Participants are encouraged to share their performances on social media while tagging Coke Studio Bangla and submitting their video links via the campaign website. The student with the most impressive performance and highest social media engagement at each winning university will earn the opportunity to perform as the opening act at their campus concert. Speaking on the initiative, Laila Farzana, Marketing Director of Coca-Cola Bangladesh Limited, said, “Coke Studio Bangla has always been about bringing people together through music and celebrating talent. With Coke Studio Bangla on Campus, we want to bring that experience closer to young people and give them a chance to make it their own.” “Whether it is rallying friends to vote for their university or stepping into the recording booth to perform, we hope students will embrace the competition and create some unforgettable campus memories,” she added. The campaign will feature various on-campus activations, with highlights and leaderboard updates shared via Coke Studio Bangla’s social media platforms.

Rapper and music mogul Jay-Z will headline the Super Bowl halftime show on February 14 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, the NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced Monday night. Jay-Z, whose company has helped produce the NFL's halftime entertainment for years, will take centre stage himself for the first time. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said his initial request when the league partnered with Roc Nation was for Jay-Z to perform at the Super Bowl whenever he felt the time was right. “From 'Reasonable Doubt' to standing on the Super Bowl halftime stage, this has been a journey,” Jay-Z said in a statement. “Thirty years of music, work, and culture on the world's biggest stage. This run continues to be a dream come true.” The announcement followed days of speculation and comes as Jay-Z returns to the stadium where he recently concluded celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of his 1996 debut album, “Reasonable Doubt.” The celebrations included three sold-out shows at Yankee Stadium, as well as sold-out performances in London and Paris, before a weekend appearance at SoFi Stadium. Jay-Z's company, Roc Nation, has partnered with the NFL since 2019 to advise on and help produce the league's entertainment programmes, including the Super Bowl halftime show. At the time, Jay-Z had told Goodell, “If this is about me performing at the Super Bowl, then we can just end this conversation now.” Seven years later, he is ready to take the stage. Born Shawn Carter, Jay-Z has won 25 Grammy Awards from 89 nominations, the second-highest total in Grammy history behind his wife, Beyoncé, who has performed at two Super Bowls. His celebrated discography includes the albums “The Blueprint” and “The Black Album”, along with hit songs such as “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)”, “99 Problems” and “Empire State of Mind”, his collaboration with Alicia Keys. Last year, “Reasonable Doubt” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Jay-Z's recent concerts featured a rotating lineup of guest performers. At SoFi Stadium, his daughter Blue Ivy played piano during “The Story of O.J.” and “Dead Presidents”, while Scarface, John Legend and DJ Khaled joined him on opening night. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Too $hort appeared during Saturday's finale. Earlier in the concert series, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Eminem and Nas were among the guests at Yankee Stadium. Beyond music, Jay-Z has established himself as an entrepreneur and entertainment executive. The Brooklyn-born rapper co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records and launched Roc Nation in 2008, building it into an entertainment company representing artists and athletes. In 2017, he became the first rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He joined the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 and has also won four Emmy Awards. Roc Nation will executive-produce the halftime show, with Hamish Hamilton directing. The Super Bowl halftime show has earned several Emmy Awards in recent years. Bad Bunny's performance in February won a record seven awards, including best variety special (live), while Kendrick Lamar's performance last year won an Emmy for music direction.

Legendary folk singer Abbasuddin Ahmed will be remembered on his 125th birth anniversary on Tuesday, celebrating his enduring contribution to Bengali music and the preservation of the region’s rich folk traditions. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) and cultural institution Chhayanaut have arranged separate programmes featuring discussions and musical performances to pay tribute to the iconic artiste, renowned for popularising Bhawaiya and other forms of Bengali folk music. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy will organise a programme titled ‘Oki Gariyal Bhai’ at 6 pm on Tuesday at its National Music and Dance Centre auditorium. Organised under the patronage of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the programme will feature discussions and musical performances in remembrance of the legendary singer. Culture Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury is scheduled to attend as the chief guest, while Professor Dr Nashid Kamal will deliver the keynote address. Cultural Affairs Secretary Yasmin Begum will attend as a special guest, and Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid, who is serving as the academy’s acting director general, will preside over the programme. Chhayanaut will hold a special edition of its ‘Shrotar Ashor’ from 6:30 pm to 8 pm at its auditorium, bringing together seven artistes to perform in tribute to Abbasuddin and his musical legacy. The participating artistes are Kiran Chandra Roy, Chandana Majumdar, Biman Chandra Biswas, Sharmin Sathi Islam, Md Abul Kalam Azad, Mosa Sharifa Khatun and Priyantu Deb. Admission to the programme is open to all, and the event will also be streamed live on Chhayanaut’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. Born on October 27, 1901, at Balarampur village in Tufanganj subdivision of Cooch Behar, now in West Bengal, India, Abbasuddin became one of the most influential voices in the history of Bengali music. His distinctive voice and emotive delivery helped bring the musical traditions of Bengal’s rural communities to a wider audience. His repertoire encompassed Bhawaiya, Palli Geeti, Bhatiyali, Jari, Sari, Murshidi, Bichchhedi, Marsiya and Pala Gaan, alongside modern, patriotic and Islamic songs. Although he received brief training from music maestros, he was largely self-taught. Abbasuddin played a significant role in popularising folk songs through gramophone recordings, helping preserve musical traditions that had long been passed down through oral performance. His interpretations captured the joys, sorrows and everyday experiences of rural Bengal, securing him a lasting place in the region’s musical heritage. His association with Kazi Nazrul Islam, the National Poet of Bangladesh, also marked an important chapter in his career. Abbasuddin was the first singer to record Nazrul’s iconic Islamic song ‘O Mon Romjaner Oi Rozar Sheshe Elo Khushir Eid’, which has since become a cherished part of Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations among Bengali-speaking Muslims. He recorded numerous other songs written by Nazrul, contributing to the wider popularity of Bengali Islamic music. His musical legacy also reflects the diverse cultural traditions of Bengal, encompassing folk, devotional and contemporary forms. Following the Partition of India in 1947, Abbasuddin moved to Dhaka and joined the Department of Information and Broadcasting as an additional song organiser. Alongside his official responsibilities, he continued to contribute to the development and promotion of Bengali music. He represented the region at several international cultural gatherings, including the International Folk Music Conference in Germany in 1956. His autobiography, ‘Amar Shilpi Jiboner Kotha’, published posthumously in 1960, remains an important account of his life and musical journey. In recognition of his contributions, he received the Pride of Performance Award in 1960, the Shilpakala Academy Award in 1979 and the Independence Day Award in 1981, all posthumously. Abbasuddin passed away on December 30, 1959, but his recordings continue to connect generations of listeners with the musical heritage of Bengal.  

Two French news channels backpedaled and apologized this weekend after they misidentified images of protests in Albania as demonstrations taking place in France. CNEWS made the mix-up first on Saturday, as a mass march was getting underway peacefully in southern Paris — the largest of nearly 300 demonstrations nationwide over school funding and soaring living costs that together drew hundreds of thousands of people. But images that CNEWS showed of people gathered in protest on a street, some of them clapping and one waving a red flag, were shot not at Paris' Porte d'Italie, as labelled by the broadcaster, but in Tirana, the Albanian capital that was among multiple locations in Europe where demonstrations took place on Saturday. Some of the people shown had covered their faces with ski goggles and masks. A commentator speaking over the CNEWS broadcast alleged they were "behaving like future vandals, like future rioters," suggesting that the Paris demonstration could turn violent, even though the images were from Albania. There were clashes at the end of the Paris demonstration, with masked protesters hurling objects and fireworks at police, who answered with clouds of tear gas, deafening sound grenades and jets of water cannons. There was also scattered violence in other cities and towns. Police made 1,314 arrests, the Interior Ministry said Sunday. The Associated Press also reported Saturday from Tirana and protests elsewhere. AP verified that images shown on CNEWS, labelled "Porte d'Italie (Paris)," were shot at Rruga e Durrësit, a central Tirana street. A CNEWS presenter subsequently apologized on air for what the channel described on its website as "a confusion of images." The presenter, Olivier Benkemoun, explained that the channel received video feeds from multiple locations and had misidentified some of the images. "Earlier, you saw the guys who were covering their faces. Well, that wasn't in Paris. We made a mistake in the control room," he said. "So, really, I want to apologize, also on behalf of the newsroom, because the images of guys covering their faces came from Albania," he added. Critics of the conservative news channel savaged the mistake. "Footage from Albania to make it look like a live broadcast from Porte d'Italie! Pathetic," said far-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon, in a post on X. Public broadcaster Franceinfo also confused Albania with France on Saturday. It broadcast images of officers in riot gear advancing down a street, taking cover behind two trucks firing water cannons. AP verified the location as Bulevardi Dëshmorët e Kombit in central Tirana. But franceinfo's television service said the images were coming live from Lyon, with a presenter saying that the situation in the city in southeastern France looked "a bit tense." Three minutes later, the presenter corrected the mistake. "It followed an error on our part. These weren't live images from Lyon but were live images from Tirana," he said. "I present our excuses."

Rajinikanth, one of Indian cinema’s biggest superstars, made a rare public appearance at a cinema hall on Friday, watching his latest film Jailer 2 alongside fans in Chennai for the first time in four decades. The veteran actor visited PVR Cinemas at Phoenix Mall in Velachery, Chennai, where he was welcomed by a small group of people, including music director Anirudh Ravichander. A video shared by Sun Pictures showed Rajinikanth being escorted into the theatre to watch the film with audiences. Directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, Jailer 2 was released in theatres on October 15. According to Sacnilk, the film earned more than Rs 600 crore worldwide in its first nine days. The movie opened with a massive Rs 125.25 crore globally on its first day and crossed Rs 549 crore by the end of its first week. It has also surpassed the lifetime box-office collection of its predecessor, becoming one of the highest-grossing films in Tamil cinema history. Besides its commercial success, Jailer 2 has received praise from critics, audiences and celebrities across India. Actor Riteish Deshmukh lauded Rajinikanth’s star power, calling the film a “Maha Blockbuster” and urging fans to watch it. Sharing his excitement during the interval, Deshmukh later described the screening as a celebration, saying he had clapped, whistled and cheered at every entry. Kamal Haasan, Dhanush, Karthik Subbaraj and others also congratulated Rajinikanth, director Nelson Dilipkumar, composer Anirudh Ravichander and the Sun Pictures team on the film’s success. Alongside Rajinikanth, the film features SJ Suryah, Mithun Chakraborty, Vidya Balan, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Ramya Krishnan and Yogi Babu in key roles. Produced by Kalanithi Maran under the Sun Pictures banner, Jailer 2 has emerged as a major box-office success.

For fans of Harry Styles, his 30-date residency at New York City's Madison Square Garden has become one of the year's biggest musical events. Tens of thousands of fans have flocked to the iconic arena each night, eager to catch the show before the run ends over Halloween weekend. The residency follows Styles' hugely successful 2022 run, when he performed 15 consecutive nights at the same venue. He is far from alone in embracing the format. Las Vegas residencies, once considered a final career stop for ageing performers, have increasingly attracted younger stars, including Usher, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. In 2024, Adele staged a 10-date residency in Munich, while Bad Bunny's 31-date residency in Puerto Rico last year generated more than $200 million, providing a significant boost to the island's fragile economy and raising its international profile. Celine Dion, who holds the record for the highest-grossing Las Vegas residency, has recently launched a concert series just outside Paris. It marks her first series of performances since she disclosed her diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome. Artists and industry executives say residencies have become increasingly popular for several reasons, although critics argue that the format can shift costs onto fans, who might otherwise attend concerts in their hometowns instead of spending money on travel. Residencies meet changing demandsMitch Rose, head of North American touring at Creative Artists Agency, which represents performers including Styles and Perry, said residencies are not a new concept. He traced their origins to the Las Vegas performances of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett in the 1960s, when artists regularly played multiple shows at hotels over the course of a year. Over time, the format became associated with performers nearing retirement. That perception changed in the 2000s when Dion revived the concept through her long-running Las Vegas productions, "A New Day …" and "Celine." John Meglen, co-CEO of Concerts West, played a key role in organising both of Dion's Las Vegas residencies and her latest concert series in France. "Most people thought we were crazy," he said, referring to the scale and expense of the original undertaking, which involved 200 shows annually over 40 weeks, with five performances each week. The strategy ultimately paid off. According to Billboard, Dion grossed $681.3 million through 1,141 performances over 16 years. Rose said audiences increasingly view residencies as destination events, similar to music festivals that attract fans from around the world. He compared the experience to Coachella, where music lovers gather in the desert each April to share a collective experience. When Styles' residency was announced, Madison Square Garden was the only venue in the United States where he was scheduled to perform in 2026, adding to the event's exclusivity, Rose said. Residencies also often inspire temporary artist merchandise stores and fan gatherings, further strengthening their festival-like atmosphere. Artists and the music industry reap benefitsR&B star Usher staged his popular "Usher: My Way The Vegas Residency" in 2022 and 2023 as part of a high-profile period that also included his performance at the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show. Speaking to The Associated Press at the time, Usher said the stability of performing in one location was a major attraction. "I like the idea of what I've found in Las Vegas. It gives me an opportunity to settle. I have children now. I got a life," he said. Residencies also offer substantial financial advantages by reducing the costs of transporting production equipment, staff and performers from one city to another, Meglen said. Rose highlighted the benefits for artists' mental well-being, noting that performing in a single location eliminates the need for constant air and bus travel. The format also allows performers to develop elaborate stage productions without having to transport them around the world. One prominent example is Las Vegas' Sphere, a 516-foot-wide (157-metre) entertainment venue featuring advanced technology and a high-resolution LED screen that extends around half of its 17,500-seat audience. In 2026, Carín León became the first Latino artist to stage a residency at the venue. "It's a venue that lets you express a lot of stuff because of all of the tools," he said. "For me, it was perfect." Fans question ticket pricesDespite the benefits for performers, some fans believe residencies place an unfair financial burden on audiences. Tickets for Styles' New York shows range from less than $100 to $1,000, excluding travel expenses for fans coming from outside the city. Sara Feigin, a New York-based photographer and Styles fan, said she understands why artists prefer residencies but questions the high ticket prices. "I understand why residencies make sense for an artist and why it would be less stressful and make their lives easier. But as a fan, I don't understand how they cost as much money as they do," she said. "You're playing over 30 days at the same venue, why is this $300?" Feigin argued that lower operating costs should translate into more affordable tickets for audiences. A representative for Styles declined to comment. For events sold through Ticketmaster, including Styles' residency, the event organiser determines the base ticket price, known as the face value, before fees and taxes are added. Meglen stressed that traditional touring remains important, but said residencies and tours can coexist. Residencies allow artists to give other markets a break, helping rebuild demand for future tours. He argued that repeatedly touring the same markets does not necessarily lead to higher ticket sales. Residencies spread across the worldThe choice of location largely depends on an artist's popularity and audience, Rose said, citing Bad Bunny's successful residency in Puerto Rico as an example. "Nobody could do what he did in Puerto Rico, right?" he said, adding that major entertainment markets are generally the first choices for residencies, although not every city is suitable. Meglen said Paris was the natural choice for Dion because it is her biggest market worldwide. Other major entertainment hubs, including Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York, remain leading destinations because they offer numerous large venues capable of hosting extended concert runs. Fans living far from these cities may therefore have to travel to see their favourite performers, as the residency format is expected to remain popular. "Everything is cyclical and the residencies are certainly having a moment," Rose said. "And as long as there's a Las Vegas or an act big enough to do multiple nights in arenas, it will never go away."

Global streaming giant Netflix and Bengali streaming platform hoichoi have joined forces to take acclaimed Bengali series, upcoming premieres and new adaptations to wider audiences, with titles including ‘Mahanagar’ and ‘Bohemian Ghora’ set to reach viewers through the global streaming service. Under the first-of-its-kind partnership, all hoichoi series premiering over the next two years will be available exclusively on Netflix in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, alongside their Bengali debuts on hoichoi. The collaboration will also bring a curated collection of 14 existing hoichoi titles to Netflix, spanning crime thrillers, detective mysteries, folklore horror, social and courtroom dramas, and romance. The collection includes ‘Madam Inspector’, ‘Sampurna’, ‘Lajja’, ‘Eken Sirji’, ‘Anjaan Saaye’, ‘The Curse of Parnashavari’, ‘Bloodlines’, ‘The Adventures of Daadi & Jagga’, ‘Raat Abhi Baaki Hain’, ‘Achinta: Trial By Law’, ‘Shaadi Ka Siyappa (Bohemian Ghora)’, ‘Queens’, ‘Parineeta: A Love Story’ and ‘Mahanagar’. Ashfaque Nipun, director of ‘Mahanagar’, expressed gratitude to the series’ cast, crew, his team and hoichoi for their contributions in taking the show to Netflix. In a Facebook post on Thursday, Nipun said his journey from Chattogram to hoichoi and eventually Netflix would not have been possible without their support, noting that no one in his extended family had previously been involved in the media industry. “All praise belongs to Allah; and all my thanks go to the cast and crew of my series ‘Mahanagar’, especially my team and hoichoi, without whose contributions ‘Mahanagar’ could not have reached Netflix,” he wrote. Nipun said the journey had been possible because of the collective efforts of those who worked on the series, while thanking viewers for their overwhelming love and support. “I have always believed that people are as big as their dreams. The bigger the dream, the greater the possibilities,” he wrote, adding that the audience’s love gave him the courage to dream bigger. Another title in the collection, ‘Bohemian Ghora’, has also drawn attention from its director-producer Amitabh Reza Chowdhury, who said the series was much more than a story about a truck driver and his eight wives. In another Facebook post on Thursday, Chowdhury said the series explores Bangladesh’s land, people, folk culture, complex relationships and distinctive sense of humour, combining laughter, romance, deception and the unusual ways people navigate life. “Stories scattered across the roads of Bangladesh are now reaching international audiences,” he wrote, describing the development as an opportunity to present the country’s stories, people and distinctive humour to viewers worldwide. The first new release under the partnership will be ‘The Cursed Temple of Kauriburi’, a folklore horror series starring Jeetu Kamal, Solanki Roy and Paoli Dam. The series is scheduled to premiere on November 6, with more titles expected to follow in the coming months. The two platforms will also collaborate on original series produced by hoichoi studios, reimagining selected hoichoi stories through new adaptations and creative perspectives. Further details of these projects will be announced later. Netflix said the partnership reflects its continued efforts to expand its licensed content alongside original productions, bringing stories from different markets to its global audience of nearly one billion people. Launched in 2017 as the maiden venture of SVF’s new media arm, hoichoi offers more than 2,000 hours of Bengali content, including over 100 original series, films, short films and docu-series. In 2023, the platform expanded into theatrical film production with the launch of hoichoi studios, further extending its commitment to Bengali storytelling.  

Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna-starrer Ranabaali saw its box office earnings decline on Wednesday, October 21, collecting Rs 5.50 crore in net domestic revenue on its sixth day in theatres, according to Sacnilk. The collection was 22.5% lower than the Rs 7.10 crore earned on Tuesday. Despite the midweek slowdown, the period action drama has grossed Rs 59.65 crore worldwide. Its domestic net collection stands at Rs 42.05 crore, while its gross earnings in India have reached Rs 48.90 crore. The film has earned Rs 10.75 crore from overseas markets, including Rs 50 lakh on Wednesday. Ranabaali opened in theatres on October 16 with Rs 9.25 crore in net domestic earnings. It collected Rs 7.30 crore on Saturday and Rs 7.50 crore on Sunday. Earnings dropped to Rs 5.40 crore on Monday before recovering to Rs 7.10 crore on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the film earned Rs 5.50 crore from 2,232 shows across India, recording 453,848 admissions. Its total footfall since release has reached 3,312,504, according to Sacnilk. The Telugu version recorded an overall theatre occupancy of 40.44% on Wednesday. Morning shows registered 22.92% occupancy, while afternoon screenings recorded 48.38%. Evening and night shows reported occupancy rates of 48.08% and 41.92%, respectively. Directed by Rahul Sankrityan, Ranabaali is set in the Rayalaseema region during the Great Madras Famine of 1876-1878. The historical action drama follows a horseman who rises against British colonial rule. Vijay Deverakonda plays Singanamala Bobbili Ranabaali, while Rashmika Mandanna portrays Jayamma. Arnold Vosloo, known for The Mummy, appears as Sir Theodore Hector. Written by Rahul Sankrityan and Pramod Tammineni, the film was released in theatres on October 16, 2026.

Redoan Rony’s 2016 film ‘Ice Cream’, which marked the big-screen debuts of actors Sariful Razz, Nazifa Tushi and Kumar Uday, is set to premiere on streaming platform Chorki at midnight on Monday, ushering in a nostalgic return a decade after its theatrical release. The film, which hit cinemas on April 29, 2016, will be available exclusively on Chorki from October 20, allowing audiences to revisit a story that introduced three fresh faces to the big screen and featured songs that became closely associated with the film, including Arnob’s ‘Boka Chand’ and Minar Rahman’s ‘Poth’. For Razz, Tushi and Uday, ‘Ice Cream’ was the beginning of their film careers. The actors had described the project as being like their child, recalling the love, hard work and emotions that went into making it. Tushi, who entered the entertainment industry directly through the film without previously working in television dramas or advertisements, said she had little understanding of the industry when she took on the project. “I stepped into the canvas of cinema without understanding or knowing how big it was. I knew nothing about the industry then; I simply wanted to act,” she said. Recalling why she agreed to work on the film, Tushi said she believed ‘Ice Cream’ was a good film and Rony was a good director. “I understood many things after doing ‘Ice Cream’. It feels really good that audiences will be able to watch the film again. I said then that everyone should watch it, at least once, and I am saying the same thing now; but it is truly surprising to think about how I made the film and that 10 years have passed since then,” she said. Uday, who is currently busy with theatre productions, said the film's memories remained vivid and colourful for him. “The film has so many memories, and all of them are colourful. They are not just memories of the past; they remain colourful memories for me,” he said, recalling the bond that developed among the three actors before filming began. He also expressed surprise at how relevant the film remained after a decade, saying he believed it could become even more significant for the current generation. Uday recalled that during the first phase of shooting in Saint Martin’s Island, the entire unit jumped into the sea together, holding hands after wrapping up the shoot. He said the moment remained one of his most cherished memories of the production. Razz described ‘Ice Cream’ as more than just a film, calling it the foundation of his journey to where he is today. “Certainly, there are some differences between the Razz of 10 years ago and the Razz of today. But ‘Ice Cream’ is the foundation of my life that helped me reach where I am now,” he said. He recalled the rehearsals, his nervousness behind the camera, Rony’s guidance and the moments on set, adding that audiences would now be able to revisit the early days of his career through the film. Director Rony, who also wrote the story, screenplay and dialogues, said the film was created through the tireless efforts, fresh dreams and emotions of a group of young people. “Although the equations of life have changed over time, some feelings and realities never fade. As the film returns to the screen on Chorki after a decade, its subject matter still feels very relevant,” he said. Rony added that the release would allow people who missed the film in cinemas, including those living abroad, to watch it from anywhere. The film was produced by Shukla Banik, Redoan Rony and Salma Adil. Its soundtrack features vocals by Arnob, Armeen Musa, Sharmin Sultana Sumi and Minar Rahman. The cast also includes late ATM Shamsuzzaman, Diti, Omar Sani, Sayem Sadat and Nadia Khanam.  

As Hindus across Bangladesh celebrate Durga Puja, several celebrities from the country’s entertainment industry have shared glimpses of their festive moments, personal memories and wishes for the occasion on social media. Actress Bidya Sinha Saha Mim welcomed the festival with her husband, Sony Poddar, and other family members. On Maha Shashthi, the actress shared photographs on Instagram capturing joyful moments with her loved ones, accompanied by the caption “Shubho Shashthi.” The photographs offered fans a glimpse of Mim’s family celebrations as she joined in the festive spirit at the beginning of the five-day festival. Meanwhile, actress Puja Chery has been busy visiting different Puja mandaps, sharing photographs taken in front of Durga idols with her followers. On Maha Saptami, she posted a message highlighting the strength and resilience of women, writing, “The goddess is not only in the idol, but also in every woman’s courage, every protest and every story of rising again.” Wishing for a festive atmosphere filled with light and flowers, Puja also expressed hope that the blessings of the goddess would bring peace to every weary heart. For actress Apu Biswas, however, the festival carries a more subdued emotional note. Having lost her mother several years ago, the actress has found the celebrations less joyful than they once were. Speaking to the media recently, Apu said she would remain in Dhaka during the Puja holidays. Although she has no special plans for the occasion, she expressed hope that this year’s celebrations would bring happiness to everyone and preserve the festive spirit. Actor Manoj Pramanik, who has traditionally spent Durga Puja in his village, will also remain in Dhaka this year because of shooting commitments. Despite attending school, college and university before moving to Dhaka for work, Manoj said he had always returned to his village for the festival, making the rural celebrations an integral part of his childhood memories. He said many of his childhood Puja traditions remain unchanged, including spending time with relatives, visiting mandaps and enjoying festive food, particularly naru, a traditional sweet. Manoj, who grew up witnessing the inclusive nature of Durga Puja, recalled cultural programmes, jatra performances and community-organised celebrations that brought together people from different backgrounds. He extended his Sharadiya greetings to everyone. Actress Pori Moni, despite being a Muslim, has also drawn attention on social media with a special look inspired by Goddess Durga. On Sunday, she shared a video on her Facebook page featuring herself in a traditional white sari with a red border, an ornate crown and a lotus in her hand. The styling evoked the familiar imagery of the goddess and drew praise from social media users. Captioning the video, Pori Moni wrote, “May good triumph over evil.” Director Chayanika Chowdhury was among those who shared and praised Pori Moni’s festive look on Facebook. Extending her own wishes for the occasion, Chayanika wrote, “Shubho Maha Saptami… May everyone’s life be easy and beautiful.” From family gatherings and visits to Puja mandaps to nostalgic memories of celebrations in the countryside and creative tributes to the goddess, the stars’ posts have reflected different ways of embracing the spirit of Durga Puja.