United News of Bangladesh

The legendary Indian singer Asha Bhosle will be cremated at 4 pm with full state honours at Shivaji Park, Mumbai. Several political leaders and Bollywood celebrities rushed to pay their last respects. Asha Bhosle’s son, Anand Bhosle, gave an official statement outside the hospital after her demise. He told reporters that those who wish to pay their last respects can visit her residence at 11 am on Monday. Antim Darshan of Asha Bhosle will be held from 10 am to 2 pm, followed by the funeral at 4 pm at Shivaji Park on Monday, as per the Bhosle family’s note. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Devendra Fadnavis, Amit Shah, and many Bollywood stars including Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Vicky Kaushal, AR Rahman, among others, mourned her demise. Asha Bhosle has received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the Padma Vibhushan, and the National Film Award, and holds a Guinness World Record as the most-recorded artist in music history, with more than 12,000 recorded songs across languages. Earlier, the legendary singer, whose versatile voice captivated generations of music lovers, breathed her last at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital on Sunday at the age of 92. The veteran singer was admitted to the hospital after suffering from extreme exhaustion and a chest infection, according to her granddaughter, Zanai Bhosle. Doctors later confirmed that she died due to multi-organ failure. # With input from media reports

Bangladeshi playback singer and composer Runa Laila has said the world has lost a “rare jewel” following the death of legendary Indian singer Asha Bhosle. In a Facebook post on Sunday afternoon, she wrote, “I am completely devastated. The world has lost a rare jewel, irreplaceable and unsurpassable." Recalling her memories, she said, “As a child I would listen to Asha Didi’s songs and try to copy the superfine and finely honed intricacies in her unmatched voice. I learnt so much from her.”  

Legendary Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle has been admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital on Saturday. Her granddaughter, Zanai Bhosle, shared an update on her health on social media platform X, according to NDTV. Zanai Bhosle said that Asha Bhosle has been admitted to hospital following "extreme exhaustion and a chest infection". "My grandmother, Asha Bhosle due to extreme exhaustion and suffering a chest infection has been admitted to hospital and we request you to value our privacy. Treatment is ongoing and hopefully everything will be well and we shall update you positively," she wrote. Asha Bhosle, known for songs such as Piya Tu Ab To Aaja, Jaiye Aap Kahan Jayenge, Rangeela Re, and Sharara Sharara, will turn 93 on September 8, 2026. Asha Bhosle sang her first film song Chala Chala Nav Bala for the Marathi film Majha Bal in 1943. While she was once pigeonholed into singing peppy dance numbers such as Piya Tu Ab To Aaja and O Haseena Zulfon Wali, the singer later showcased her range with ghazals such as Dil Cheez Kya Hai and the classical Tora Man Darpan Kehlaye.  

The Russian House in Dhaka, in cooperation with the Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) and North South University, successfully hosted a vibrant musical evening at the university campus. The event, dedicated to the celebration of Bangladesh’s Independence Day and the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia, brought together more than 800 students and faculty members, creating a lively atmosphere of cultural exchange and artistic appreciation. The programme commenced with a speech by Alexandra Khlevnoy, Head of the Russian House in Dhaka. In her address, she highlighted opportunities for higher education in Russia, with particular emphasis on the Russian Government Scholarship (Quota Program) and academic pathways available for Bangladeshi students. She also emphasized the strong and longstanding ties between Russia and Bangladesh, dating back to the time of Bangladesh’s independence, underscoring the importance of continued cooperation in education and culture. Following the formal segment, the audience enjoyed an engaging performance by The Dhaka Melodiya Project, featuring a diverse repertoire of classical and modern compositions: Waltz No. 2 from the Suite for Variety Orchestra — Dmitri Shostakovich Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14 — Sergei Rachmaninoff Folk songs: Korobeiniki (The Peddlers) based on a poem by Nikolay Nekrasov, and Kalinka by Ivan Larionov Nostalgie — Alexey Kozlov and the band Arsenal The performances blended classical heritage with contemporary styles, leaving a lasting impression on the audience and creating a memorable cultural experience.

Thousands of fans flocked to a stadium near Seoul on Thursday as K-pop sensation BTS launched their much-anticipated world tour. After nearly four years away from the stage, members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook returned to perform songs from their past hits alongside tracks from their new fifth album, ARIRANG, released following the completion of their mandatory military service. Despite heavy rain, more than 40,000 fans filled the venue, marking the group’s first major headline tour performance since their 2021–22 Permission to Dance on Stage tour. The Seoul concerts, scheduled to run through April 12, mark the beginning of an extensive global tour covering dozens of shows across the United States, Europe and Asia. Industry analysts expect the tour to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue each quarter. The tour kickoff comes weeks after the group staged a free comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square. All seven members recently completed their mandatory military service, with Suga being the last discharged in June 2025. Due to a shoulder injury, he reportedly fulfilled his duties through alternative service at government-related institutions. Under South Korean law, all able-bodied men aged 18 to 28 must complete up to 21 months of military service as part of a conscription system aimed at countering threats from North Korea. The album ARIRANG, named after a traditional Korean folk song considered an unofficial national anthem, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Its lead single “Swim” also topped the charts. Formed in 2013, BTS — short for Bangtan Sonyeondan (“Bulletproof Boy Scouts”) — rose to global fame with a string of successful releases, including their breakthrough in 2017 when “DNA” entered the Billboard Hot 100, making them the first Korean boy band to achieve the milestone. The tour will next head to Tokyo before continuing across North America, Europe, South America and Asia, with Australia scheduled for early 2027 and a final stop in Manila next March. 

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the dates for the 99th and 100th Oscars, marking the final ceremonies to air on ABC before the show moves to YouTube. According to the academy and ABC, the 99th Oscars will take place on March 14, 2027, and the 100th on March 5, 2028. Both events will be the last to be held at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre. Starting 2029, the Oscars will have a new home at YouTube and a new physical venue at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, as part of a 10-year deal with AEG. The shows will continue to air at 7 p.m. Eastern/4 p.m. Pacific. Last month’s 98th Oscars saw a 9% drop in TV ratings after several years of growth. Hosted by Conan O’Brien, the ceremony honored ‘One Battle After Another’ with best picture and director, Michael B. Jordan won best actor for ‘Sinners’, and Jessie Buckley took best actress for ‘Hamnet’.

The haunting melody of “Tumi je amar…” from Harano Sur still lingers in the hearts of generations, evoking a time when Bengali cinema was defined by quiet intensity, emotional depth and timeless romance. At the centre of that golden era stood Suchitra Sen- the legendary actress whose grace, silence and expressive eyes made her one of the most enduring icons of South Asian cinema. Yet her journey did not begin in the world of glamour. It began in the modest surroundings of Pabna, where she was born as Roma Dasgupta on April 6, 1931, into a middle-class family. Coke Studio Bangla concludes Season 3 with Runa Laila’s iconic ‘Mast Qalandar’ Her father was a schoolteacher and her mother a homemaker, and her early life was shaped far from the spotlight she would one day command. A modest beginning, a quiet transformation After her family moved to Kolkata, her life gradually took a new turn. Married at a young age, she entered the film industry with little expectation of immediate success. Her early films went largely unnoticed, but she continued to refine her craft with patience and discipline. Her breakthrough came in the 1950s, when her natural screen presence and emotional restraint began to set her apart. A legendary pairing that defined an era Her on-screen partnership with Uttam Kumar created one of the most celebrated pairings in Indian cinema history. Together, they delivered unforgettable classics such as Harano Sur, Saptapadi and Deep Jwele Jai—films that transcended entertainment to become cultural milestones. From Sharey Chuattor (1953) to Priyo Bandhabi (1975), their collaboration defined a golden chapter in Bengali cinema. The power of restraint and silence What distinguished Suchitra Sen was her extraordinary control over expression. She rarely relied on dramatic gestures. Instead, her eyes, pauses and subtle emotions conveyed deeper psychological layers. In Deep Jwele Jai, she delivered one of her most powerful performances as a nurse torn between duty and emotional exhaustion. In Saptapadi, she portrayed a modern, self-assured woman navigating love and societal barriers—an unusually progressive character for its time. Her role in Saat Pake Bandha brought her international acclaim, including a Silver Award at the Moscow International Film Festival, establishing her reputation beyond regional cinema. She also left a lasting mark in Hindi cinema with Aandhi where she played a politically ambitious woman whose personal and public lives collide in complex ways. The mystery of withdrawal At the height of her career, Suchitra Sen made a decision that deepened her legend—she withdrew completely from public life. She stopped attending events, avoided the media and retreated into near-total seclusion for decades. An eternal presence Though she is no longer alive, Suchitra Sen remains vividly present in cinematic memory. Her films continue to be revisited, her performances studied, and her persona admired for its rare combination of elegance and mystery. From a quiet town in Pabna to the pinnacle of cinematic greatness, her journey reflects not just fame, but artistic integrity and individuality. She was not merely a star. She was an era.

Actor Parineeti Chopra has publicly backed her husband, Raghav Chadha, after he was removed as the deputy leader of the Aam Aadmi Party in the Rajya Sabha. The change came after the party appointed Ashok Mittal to the role and notified the Rajya Sabha secretariat. Shortly after, Chadha shared a video on Instagram featuring clips from his parliamentary speeches, where he raised issues such as the tax burden on the middle class, banking penalties, food adulteration, air pollution, exam paper leaks, data privacy and rising costs in sectors like aviation and healthcare. The video concludes with Chadha exiting Parliament and carries the caption “Silenced, not defeated,” as he questioned the reasons behind his removal. He said that he consistently used his time in Parliament to highlight public concerns and wondered whether raising such issues had led to his ouster. Showing her support, Parineeti reposted the video on her Instagram Stories. She has previously praised Chadha’s work, including when he spoke in Parliament about paternity leave — a stance she publicly supported, highlighting his role as an involved father. The couple got engaged in May 2023 in New Delhi and married later that year in Udaipur. They welcomed their son, Neer, in October 2025. On the professional front, Parineeti was last seen in Amar Singh Chamkila alongside Diljit Dosanjh and is set to appear next in the upcoming Netflix series Talaash: A Mother's Search. Source: NDTV

Tollywood actor Rahul Banerjee drowned while shooting for a television serial in Talsari, near Digha, on Sunday. The 43-year-old, famed for the film Chirodini Tumi Je Amar, was filming the serial Bhole Baba Par Karega when the incident occurred. According to Anandabazar, he entered the water during the shoot and went under. Technicians on set later pulled him out, but he had been submerged for a significant period. He was rushed to a hospital in Digha, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Preliminary reports indicate drowning as the cause of death, though the exact circumstances remain under investigation. Actor Diganta Bagchi, speaking on behalf of the Artist Forum, said Rahul went into the water after the shoot. “Either he didn’t know how to swim, or he got stuck somehow. Suddenly, the technicians shouted, ‘Rahulda is drowning’. When he was rescued, he was still alive, but after being taken to the hospital, he was declared dead,” he said. Rahul Banerjee began his career on the big screen with the film Chirodini Tumi Je Amar, in which he starred opposite Priyanka Sarkar. The pair later fell in love and married, and they have a son together. He also appeared in the 2025 film Academy of Fine Arts and was currently acting in the television series Bhole Baba Par Karega. A few days before his death, he was seen in the web series Thakumar Jhuli.

James Tolkan, the actor remembered for his roles as a strict vice principal in ‘Back to the Future’ and a commanding officer in ‘Top Gun’, has passed away at the age of 94. Tolkan died Thursday at his home in Lake Placid, New York, his booking agent John Alcantar confirmed Saturday. A short obituary on the ‘Back to the Future’ website said he passed away “peacefully,” without mentioning a cause. In the 1985 classic ‘Back to the Future’, Tolkan played the bow tie-wearing Vice Principal Gerald Strickland, who constantly watched over students, especially Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox. His memorable line, “You got a real attitude problem, he was a slacker, too,” has become iconic. Tolkan also appeared in ‘Top Gun’ as Cmdr. Tom “Stinger” Jardian. In a notable scene near the film’s end, he reacts with humor when Tom Cruise’s character chooses his future duty: “God help us,” he says with a laugh. Born in Calumet, Michigan, Tolkan graduated high school in Arizona and served in the Navy during the Korean War. He later moved to New York, where he spent 25 years performing in theater, including as part of the original cast of ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Parmelee Welles, who said Tolkan loved art and adored animals.