Others
Singer Khalid no more
Popular band singer Khalid passed away on Monday evening. He was 60.
He breathed his last around 7:15pm at a city hospital while undergoing treatment there, lyricist and composer Prince Mahmud confirmed.
Family sources said the body will be taken to Gopalganj after Namaj-e-Janaza at Green Road Jame Mosque on Monday at 11 pm. Later, he will be buried in the family cemetery there.
Khalid is best known for his songs "Shorolotar Protima", "Himaloy", "Kono Karonei", among dozens of other hits during the 90's and 2000's.
Born in Gopalganj, the singer started his journey in the world of music in 1981.
Sadi Mohammad laid to eternal rest at Mohammadpur
Sadi Mohammad, one of the foremost Rabindra Sangeet exponents in the country, has been laid to eternal rest on Thursday at the capital’s Mohammadpur Jame Masjid Complex Graveyard.
The burial of the revered artist took place at 2 pm after the Zuhr prayers.
On Wednesday night, Sadi Mohammad’s hanging body was found at his ancestral family home, discovered by his brother and eminent dance artist Shibli Mohammad.
“My brother went to his room to practise after breaking his fast on Wednesday. Afterwards, he instructed his helper to go, saying that he would call him once finishing his practice, which felt strange to me as he never shuts the door when rehearsing,” a devastated Shibli Mohammad described the incident to the media.
“I went to his room and discovered the door closed from inside and found no response, not even after a forceful knock, we went on breaking the door and I observed that my brother was no more,” he described.The Rabindra Sangeet maestro was immediately taken to the Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, and the duty doctor confirmed that he took his own life.
Mohammadpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Tofazzal Hossain also echoed the same after the primary evaluation of the incident. However, no postmortem was done of the body upon the decision of the family.
Artistes from the cultural arena rushed to pay their last respects to Sadi Mohammad before his burial on Thursday. Among them were many music stars and actors including his nephew and media personality Syed Gousul Alam Shaon, eminent singer Khurshid Alam, Rezwana Choudhury Bannya, Anima Roy, Adity Mohsin, Lily Islam, Khairul Alam Sabuj, Kabir Bakul, Laisa Islam Lisa, and many others.
Numerous celebrities and fans of the esteemed musician shared tributes to the great singer on social media. Many of them have, however, expressed their frustration and grief over the fact that, despite being a committed and distinguished Rabindra Sangeet singer and hailing from a family of a martyr, he did not receive state honours and awards. He also left a burning question for the state regarding what the requirements should be to receive state honours.
“My brother would get some satisfaction if he got any state recognition while he was alive. Sadi Mohammad is my elder brother, and it was embarrassing for me when I got the Ekushey Padak this year before him. I told him that I would not receive the honour in person because of this reason but he insisted and comforted me, saying that he was proud of me, and I should receive the award as an acknowledgement of my contribution to the country’s culture as a dance performer,” Shibli Mohammad told media.
“However, when I handed him the invitation to go to the Ekushey Padak ceremony alongside me, he politely refused because he felt that many people would ask why he is yet to receive the honour. He was mentally devasted after our mother’s demise last year, and regarding the awards - he felt that he got overlooked despite being a lifelong devoted artist,” Shibli said.
Sadi Mohammad was born on 4 October, 1957 to martyr Salim Ullah and Zebunnessa. His father was a leader of the Bangladesh Awami League and was brutally murdered in 1971, which he witnessed himself.
After the country’s independence, Sadi Mohammad was enrolled on Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)'s Department of Civil Engineering. He did not carry on with his studies there and went to Santiniketan after receiving a scholarship in 1975 and attended Visva-Bharati University to complete his graduation and post-graduate studies in Rabindra Sangeet.
In his lifetime, Sadi Mohammad received only one state honour - the Rabindra Award by Bangla Academy in 2015.
List of winners at the 2024 Oscars
A list of winners at the Academy Awards on Sunday:
BEST PICTURE
“Oppenheimer”
BEST ACTRESS
Emma Stone, “Poor Things”
BEST ACTOR
Cillian Murphy, “Oppenheimer”
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Robert Downey Jr., “Oppenheimer”
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers”
DIRECTOR
Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer”
LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
“The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar”
SOUND
“The Zone of Interest,” Tarn Willers and Johnnie Burn
ORIGINAL SCORE
“Oppenheimer,” Ludwig Göransson
ORIGINAL SONG
“What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie”
VISUAL EFFECTS
“Godzilla Minus One”
FILM EDITING
“Oppenheimer,” Jennifer Lame
Cillian Murphy wins his first best actor Oscar for role in ‘Oppenheimer' biopic
Cillian Murphy called himself a “very proud Irishman” after he trotted onstage to claim his first-ever Oscar for portraying the man who created the atomic bomb in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster biopic “Oppenheimer.”
“I'm a little overwhelmed,” said Murphy, who won best actor for his stellar role as J. Robert Oppenheimer. The film tells the story of how Oppenheimer and his peers at Los Alamos would test the bomb on July 16, 1945, not knowing what was going to happen — and the ensuing fallout.
“I'm very humbled,” he said backstage. “I'm very grateful.”
Murphy, though a regular presence in Nolan films going back almost two decades, had always been a supporting player. This time, Nolan wanted him to lead.
Murphy thanked Nolan and the director's wife, Emma Thomas, a producer on the film.
“It's been the wildest, most exhilarating, most creatively, satisfying journey you've taken me on over the last 20 years,” Murphy said to Nolan. “I owe you more than I can say.”
The Irish actor said he did a screen test for Nolan as a kid and thought that would be his last opportunity with the director.
“I thought that would be it,” he said. “I thought it would be just enough to be in a room with Chris for a couple hours. I'm thankful for this.”
‘Oppenheimer’ set to win big at the Oscars
Murphy bested Colman Domingo for “Rustin,” Bradley Cooper for “Maestro,” Paul Giamatti for “The Holdovers,” and Jeffrey Wright for “American Fiction.”
“Oppenheimer” won seven awards Sunday, including best picture, best director for Nolan and a supporting actor Oscar for Robert Downey Jr.
Murphy called Nolan the perfect director and an extraordinary writer and producer.
“We made a film about the man who created the atomic bomb,” Murphy said. “For better or worse, we’re all living in Oppenheimer’s world, so I really like to dedicate this to the peacemakers. everywhere.”
Ben Kingsley, a presenter, applauded Murphy's courage and trust in Nolan for agreeing to take on the role before reading the script.
“Your performance is masterful,” said Kingsley. He acknowledged that Murphy’s portrayal of Oppenheimer had “layers of humanity whilst his character created something inhumane.”
Kingsley added: “It’s riveting to watch.”
Last year, Murphy told The Associated Press that when Nolan approached him to star as Oppenheimer, he called it was a “great day.”
“He’s so understated and self-deprecating and, in his very English manner, just said, ‘Listen, I’ve written this script, it’s about Oppenheimer. I’d like you to be my Oppenheimer,’” he said.
For Murphy, he knows there are some movies he’s right for and some that he is not.
Robert Downey Jr. wins his first Oscar for supporting actor role in 'Oppenheimer'
“I have always said publicly and privately, to Chris, that if I’m available and you want me to be in a movie, I’m there. I don’t really care about the size of the part,” he said last year. “But deep down, secretly, I was desperate to play a lead for him.”
Murphy came into the Academy Awards a strong contender after picking up trophies at the Golden Globes, SAG Awards and BAFTA Film Awards.
Robert Downey Jr. wins his first Oscar for supporting actor role in 'Oppenheimer'
Robert Downey Jr. became an Oscar winner on Sunday in a long-awaited victory for the veteran actor who received his first acting nod three decades ago.
Downey won best supporting actor for his portrayal of Rear Adm. Lewis Strauss in “Oppenheimer,” hailed as one of his best performances in years.
It was the third overall Oscar nod for one of Hollywood’s most versatile performers but whose career has been marked by extreme setbacks.
“I’d like to thank my terrible childhood” Downey said in a light-hearted speech, pausing for the audience’s laughter, “and the academy — in that order.”
He also gave thanks to his wife, Susan. “You loved me back to life and that’s why I’m here.”
'Oppenheimer' wins best picture at Academy Awards, Emma Stone takes best actress
Downey has been open about his past struggles with drug addiction. He revealed in his 2022 documentary “Sr.,” which pays tribute to his filmmaker father, that he was addicted to drugs by age 8.
A series of arrests for drug-related charges and a year in prison followed Downey’s first Oscar nod 30 years ago, when he was 28.
The actor said recently on “The View” that he’s grateful he didn’t end up winning in 1993 for best actor for “Chaplin.”
“I was young and crazy,” he said. “It would have put me under the impression that I was on the right track.”
Downey also received an Oscar nod in 2008 for a supporting role in “Tropic Thunder.”
Sunday's win solidified Downey's frontrunner status this awards season. He also took home the top honor for supporting actor at the Golden Globes, BAFTA Film Awards, SAG Awards and Critics Choice Awards.
“Why me? Why now? Why do things seem to be going my way?” he said while accepting his SAG Award.
Downey beat Sterling K. Brown for “American Fiction,” Ryan Gosling for “Barbie,” Mark Ruffalo for “Poor Things” and Robert De Niro for “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
‘Oppenheimer’ set to win big at the Oscars
“Oppenheimer,” Christopher Nolan’s three-hour deep dive into the development and fallout of the atomic bomb during World War II, won seven Oscars on Sunday, including best picture, best director for Nolan and best actor for Cillian Murphy. The film entered the night with 13 nominations.
“What we do is meaningful,” Downey said onstage Sunday, “and the stuff we decide to make is important.”
'Oppenheimer' wins best picture at Academy Awards, Emma Stone takes best actress
“Oppenheimer,” a solemn three-hour biopic that became an unlikely billion-dollar box-office sensation, was crowned best picture at a 96th Academy Awards that doubled as a coronation for Christopher Nolan.
After passing over arguably Hollywood’s foremost big-screen auteur for years, the Oscars made up for lost time by heaping seven awards on Nolan’s blockbuster biopic, including best actor for Cillian Murphy, best supporting actor for Robert Downey Jr. and best director for Nolan.
In anointing “Oppenheimer,” the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences did something it hasn’t done for more than a decade: hand its top prize to a widely seen, big-budget studio film. In a film industry where a cape, dinosaur or Tom Cruise has often been a requirement for such box office, “Oppenheimer” brought droves of moviegoers to theaters with a complex, fission-filled drama about J. Robert Oppenheimer and the creation of the atomic bomb.
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“For better or worse, we’re all living in Robert Oppenheimer’s world," said Murphy in his acceptance speech. "I’d like to dedicate this to the peacemakers.”
As a film heavy with unease for human capacity for mass destruction, “Oppenheimer” also emerged – even over its partner in cultural phenomenon, “Barbie” – as a fittingly foreboding film for times rife with cataclysm, man-made or not. Sunday’s Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles unfolded against the backdrop of wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and with a potentially momentous U.S. election on the horizon.
The most closely watched contest of the Academy Awards went to Emma Stone, who won best best actress for her performance as Bella Baxter in “Poor Things.”
In what was seen as the night’s most nail-biting category, Stone won over Lily Gladstone of “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Gladstone would have become the first Native American to win an Academy Award.
‘Oppenheimer’ set to win big at the Oscars
Instead, Oscar voters couldn’t resist the full-bodied extremes of Stone’s “Poor Things” performance. The win for Stone, her second best actress Oscar following her 2019 win for “La La Land,” confirmed the 35-year-old as arguably the preeminent big-screen actress of her generation. The list of women to win best actress two or more times is illustrious, including Katherine Hepburn, Frances McDormand, Ingrid Bergman and Bette Davis.
“Oh, boy, this is really overwhelming,” said Stone.
Nolan has had many movies in the Oscar mix before, including “Inception,” “Dunkirk” and “The Dark Knight.” But his win Sunday for direction is the first Academy Award for the 53-year-old filmmaker.
In his acceptance speech, Nolan noted cinema is just over a hundred years old.
“We don’t know where this incredible journey is going from here,” said Nolan. “But to think that I’m a meaningful part of it means the world to me.”
Protest and politics intruded on an election-year Academy Awards on Sunday, where demonstrations for Gaza raged outside the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, and awards went to “Oppenheimer,” “The Zone of Interest” and “20 Days in Mariupol.”
Sunday's broadcast, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, had plenty of razzle dazzle, including a sprawling song-and-dance rendition of the “Barbie” hit “I'm Just Ken” by Ryan Gosling, with an assist on guitar by Slash. A sea of Kens swarmed the stage.
The lead winner, as expected was “Oppenheimer,” the blockbuster biopic. Though not quite the clean sweep that some expected, “Oppenheimer” was overpowering all competition — including its release-date companion, “Barbie” — winning awards for its cinematography, editing, score and Robert Downey Jr.'s supporting performance.
Downey, nominated twice before (for “Chaplin” and “Tropic Thunder”), notched his first Oscar, crowning the illustrious second act of his up-and-down career.
“I’d like to thank my terrible childhood and the academy, in that order,” said Downey, the son of filmmaker Robert Downey Sr.
“Barbie,” last year’s biggest box-office hit with more than $1.4 billion in ticket sales, didn’t win an award until almost three hours into the ceremony. It won best song (sorry, Ken) for Billie Eilish and Finneas’ “What Was I Made For?” It’s their second Oscar, two years after winning for their James Bond theme, “No Time to Die.”
But after an awards season that stayed largely inside a Hollywood bubble, geopolitics played a prominent role. Protests over Israel’s war in Gaza snarled traffic around the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, slowing stars’ arrival on the red carpet and turning the Oscar spotlight toward the ongoing conflict. Some protesters shouted “Shame!” at those trying to reach the awards.
Jonathan Glazer, the British filmmaker whose chilling Auschwitz drama “The Zone of Interest” won best international film, drew connections between the dehumanization depicted in his film and today.
“Right now, we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation which has led to conflict for so many innocent people, whether the victims of October the 7th in Israel, or the the ongoing attack on Gaza, all the victims, this dehumanization, how do we resist?”
The war in Gaza was on the minds of many attendees, as was the war in Ukraine. A year after “Navalny” won the same award, Mstyslav Chernov’s “20 Days in Mariupol,” a harrowing chronicle of the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, won best documentary. The win, a first for The Associated Press and PBS’ “Frontline,” came as the war in Ukraine passed the two-year mark with no signs of abating.
Mstyslav Chernov, the Ukrainian filmmaker and AP journalist whose hometown was bombed the day he learned of his Oscar nomination, spoke forcefully about Russia's invasion.
"This is the first Oscar in Ukrainian history," said Chernov. “And I'm honored. Probably I will be the first director on this stage to say I wish I’d never made this film. I wish to be able to exchange this (for) Russia never attacking Ukraine.”
In the early going, Yorgos Lanthimos’ Frankenstein-riff “Poor Things” ran away with three prizes for its sumptuous craft, including awards for production design, makeup and hairstyling and costume design.
Kimmel, hosting the ABC telecast for the fourth time, opened the awards with an monologue that drew a few cold looks (from Downey, Sandra Hüller and Messi, the dog from best-picture nominee “Anatomy of a Fall”). But Kimmel, emphasizing Hollywood as “a union town” following 2023's actor and writer strikes, drew a standing ovation for bringing out teamsters and behind-the-scenes workers — who are now entering their own labor negotiations.
The night's first award was one of its most predictable: Da'Vine Joy Randolph for best supporting actress, for her performance in Alexander Payne's “The Holdovers.” An emotional Randolph was accompanied to the stage by her “Holdovers” co-star Paul Giamatti.
“For so long I've always wanted to be different,” said Randolph. "And now I realize I just need to be myself."
Though Randolph’s win was widely expected, an upset quickly followed. Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron” won for best animated feature, a surprise over the slightly favored “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” Miyazaki, the 83-year-old Japanese anime master who came out of retirement to make “The Boy and the Heron,” didn’t attend the ceremony. He also didn’t attend the 2003 Oscars when his “Spirited Away” won the same award.
Best original screenplay went to “Anatomy of a Fall,” which, like “Barbie," was penned by a couple: director Justine Triet and Arthur Harari. “This will help me through my midlife crisis, I think," said Triet.
In adapted screenplay, where “Barbie” was nominated — and where some suspected Greta Gerwig would win after being overlooked for director — the Oscar went to Cord Jefferson, who wrote and directed his feature film debut “American Fiction.” He pleaded for executives to take risks on young filmmakers like himself.
“Instead of making a $200 million movie, try making 20 $10 million movies,” said Jefferson, previously an award-winning TV writer.
The Oscars belonged largely to theatrical-first films. Though it came into the awards with 19 nominations, Netflix was a bit player. Its lone win came for live action short: Wes Anderson's “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar,” based on the story by Roald Dahl.
While “Barbie” bested (and helped lift) “Oppenheimer” at the box office, it took a back seat to Nolan’s film at the Oscars. Gerwig was notably overlooked for best director, sparking an outcry that some, even Hillary Clinton, said mimicked the patriarchy parodied in the film.
‘Oppenheimer’ set to win big at the Oscars
Hi, “Oppenheimer.”
When Hollywood gathers for the 96th Academy Awards on Sunday, the blockbuster biopic is widely expected to overpower all competition — including its release-date companion, “Barbie” — at an election-year Oscars that could turn into a coronation for Christopher Nolan.
The Oscars, kicking off on ABC at 7 p.m. EDT Sunday, are springing forward an hour earlier than usual due to daylight saving time. But aside from the time shift, this year’s show is going for many tried-and-true Academy Awards traditions. Jimmy Kimmel is back as host. Past winners are flocking back as presenters. And a big studio epic is poised for a major awards haul.
Still, much is circling around this year’s show. Demonstrators are expected to protest the Israel-Hamas war near the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Police have beefed up their already extensive presence. The war in Ukraine will be on some attendees’ minds, particularly those of the journalist filmmakers behind the documentary favorite, “20 Days in Mariupol.” And with the presidential election in full swing, politics could be an unavoidable topic despite an awards season that’s played out largely in a vacuum.
Hollywood also has plenty of its own storm clouds to concern itself with.
The 2023 movie year was defined by a prolonged strike over the future of an industry that’s reckoning with the onset of streaming, artificial intelligence and shifting moviegoer tastes that have tested even the most bankable brands. The academy, while also widely nominating films like “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Poor Things,” embraced both “Oppenheimer,” the lead nominee with 13 nods, and Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” the year’s biggest hit with more than $1.4 billion in ticket sales and eight nominations.
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HOW TO WATCH
Ahead of the broadcast on ABC, a red carpet preshow will begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT. E! will kick off its red-carpet coverage at 4 p.m. EDT and arrivals are being streamed on YouTube by The Associated Press.
The show will be available to stream via ABC.com and the ABC app with a cable subscription. You can also watch through services including Hulu Live TV, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV and FuboTV.
WHAT’S IN STORE FOR THE TELECASTFive past winners in each acting category will together announce winners for the first time since 2009. Among the many announced presenters are: Zendaya, Al Pacino, Jennifer Lawrence, Michelle Yeoh, Steven Spielberg, Dwayne Johnson, Matthew McConaughey, Lupita Nyong’o, Mahershala Ali, Nicolas Cage and Bad Bunny.
All of the best original song nominees will be performed, including the most likely winner, “What Was I Made For” from “Barbie,” to be performed by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell. The others are: “I’m Just Ken,” with Ryan Gosling and Mark Ronson; “The Fire Inside,” from “Flamin’ Hot,” to be performed by Becky G; Jon Batiste’s “It Never Went Away” from “American Symphony”; and “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People),” from “Killers of the Flower Moon,” to be performed by Scott George and the Osage Singers.
WHO ARE THE FAVORITES?“Oppenheimer” comes in having won at the producers, directors and actors guilds, making it the clear front-runner for best picture. The film is widely expected to win in a number of other categories, too. Nolan is tipped to win his first best director Oscar, while Robert Downey Jr. (best supporting actor) and Cillian Murphy (best actor) are also predicted to win their first Academy Award. Paul Giamatti ("The Holdovers") could challenge Murphy.
With the forecasted “Oppenheimer” romp, the night’s biggest drama is in the best actress category. Emma Stone (“Poor Things”) and Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”) are nearly even-odds to win. While an Oscar for Stone, who won for her performance “La La Land,” would be her second statuette, an win for Gladstone would make Academy Awards history. No Native American has ever won a competitive Oscar.
While “Barbie” bested (and helped lift) “Oppenheimer” at the box office, it appears likely it will take a back seat to Nolan’s film at the Oscars. Gerwig was notably overlooked for best director, sparking an outcry that some, even Hillary Clinton, said mimicked the patriarchy parodied in the film.
In supporting actress, Da'Vine Joy Randolph has been a lock all season for her performance in Alexander Payne's “The Holdovers.”
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WHAT ELSE TO LOOK FOR
Composer John Williams, 92, is expected to attend the ceremony where he's nominated for the 49th time for best score, for “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny " Meanwhile Godzilla is going to the Oscars for the first time, with “Godzilla Minus One” notching a nomination for best visual effects.
Also for the first time, two non-English language films are up for best picture: the German-language Auschwitz drama “The Zone of Interest” and the French courtroom drama “Anatomy of a Fall.” “The Zone of Interest” is the heavy favorite to win best international film.
Historically, having big movies in the mix for the Oscars’ top awards has been good for broadcast ratings. The Academy Awards’ largest audience ever came when James Cameron’s “Titanic” swept the 1998 Oscars.
Last year’s ceremony, where a very different best-picture contender in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” triumphed, was watched by 18.7 million people, up 12% from the year prior. ABC and the academy are hoping to continue the upward trend after a nadir in 2021, when 9.85 million watched a pandemic-diminished telecast relocated to Los Angeles’ Union Station.
Nasrul Hamid thanks Chattogram's youth in making Joy Bangla Concert 2024 a remarkable success
In a heartfelt acknowledgment, Nasrul Hamid, State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, praised the enthusiastic participation of Chattogram's youth in making the Joy Bangla Concert 2024 an extraordinary success.
From his verified Facebook profile, Hamid, trustee of CRI, expressed, "Immense thanks to the youth of Chattogram for their unprecedented celebration and discipline in making the Joy Bangla Concert 2024 a success.”
He also extended his congratulations to the Centre for Research and Information (CRI) and the Young Bangla team for their diligent efforts and exceptional organization of the event.
The concert, held at Chattogram's MA Aziz Stadium on Thursday, attracted an unparalleled audience, celebrating the spirit of Bangladesh's Liberation War and the historic March 7 speech by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
This year's gathering saw an impressive turnout of over 60,000 attendees on-site, with millions more joining through television and social media platforms, reinforcing the profound resonance of Bangabandhu's legacy and the collective resolve it inspires.
For the first time, the event, orchestrated by CRI's youth platform Young Bangla, was hosted outside the capital city, Dhaka, choosing Chattogram to commemorate Bangabandhu's momentous March 7 speech. The choice of location brought a fresh vibrancy to the event, connecting more directly with the youth of the port city.
The atmosphere at the stadium was electrifying, with chants of "Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu" echoing as thousands of young voices sang in unison, underscoring the unity and patriotic fervor among the attendees. Performances included inspirational songs from the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, pivotal in the nation's fight for independence, alongside hits from nine popular bands — Artcell, Cryptic Fate, Nemesis, Chirkutt, Meghdol, Lalon, Avoid Rafa, Chattogram's own Tirondaz and Carnival.
Spanning from 3 pm to nearly midnight, the concert was not merely a musical festivity but a profound manifestation of national pride. Distinguished guests included CRI Trustee Radwan Mujib Siddiq, Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, State Minister for Finance Waseqa Ayesha Khan, and ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, alongside several members of parliament, all coming together to witness this grand celebration of Bangladesh's indomitable spirit.
This is the actor Pierce Brosnan thinks would make a ‘magnificent’ Bond
Former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan has stated that fellow Irishman and Oscar contender Cillian Murphy would make a "magnificent" 007.
"Cillian would do a magnificent job as James Bond on His Majesty's Secret Service," Brosnan told the BBC.
According to reports, Murphy might be in the running; however there have always been whispers about who could play Bond next.
Brosnan was speaking at the annual Oscar Wilde Awards in Los Angeles, which honour Irish creative brilliance, reports BBC.
Murphy is expected to win best actor at the 96th Academy Awards on Sunday for his portrayal in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer.
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He stated that he had not heard the Bond speculations and that he had not given any attention to perhaps winning the Academy Award: "I just want to go in and have a good time."
He faces up against Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers), Colman Domingo (Rustin), Bradley Cooper (Maestro), and Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction), said the report.
Murphy also spoke about his 16-year-old son Aran, who will make his cinematic debut in Taika Waititi's Klara And The Sun.
"I'm very proud of him, he's a great actor," he told reporters on the Irish-themed green carpet, adding that Aran did not need his father's instruction.
Brosnan said he was "greatly honoured" to receive an Oscar Wilde award for his achievements to the cinema and television industries.
He hailed the "kinship" between Ireland and America, saying he arrived to the US in 1982 "on a wing and a prayer... and then got a job, [on the drama series] Remington Steele".
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Int’l Women’s Day: Monumental success of Coke Studio Bangla’s local gems
Coke Studio Bangla, which has become one of the leading music platforms in the country since its inception, has brought out many popular songs in its two seasons while putting the spotlight on women singers from remote areas who have now become national stars through their own merits.
Marking the occasion of this year’s International Women's Day, the platform highlights the stories of its three most popular women artists with utmost priority, who became fan favourites after its acclaimed season two.
For decades, the music of Bangladesh has been enriched by the melodies of countless talented singers, many of whom remain unknown to mainstream media and audiences, but celebrated in their local communities.
Radwan Mujib joins youths at Joy Bangla Concert in Chattogram
Aleya Begum, a folk singer popularly known as “Baul Mata” with a five-decades-long career, has been primarily recognized for singing songs of different genres including ‘Bichhed,’ ‘Palagan,’ ‘Zarigan,’ and spiritual, while writing over 1000 songs and was featured in famous movies such as ‘Gunin’. Despite her vast experience with music, she was mostly popular among her inner circle and a big name in her region.
Her soul-touching performance in Coke Studio Bangla season two's smashing hit track "Kotha Koiyo Na'' propelled her to the mainstream media and made her one of the most talked about folk singers among music lovers. Overnight, she went on to become a national sensation through the song which not only introduced Aleya to the new generation but also highlighted the rich heritage of Bangladeshi folk music.
Similarly, Hamida Banu, a folk artist from Sylhet, did not have any prior experience of performing music professionally. She has been known by the legendary folk icon Hason Raja's family for a long time and has a deep connection with the heritage of Hason Raja. Making her debut with the song "Dilaram" in Coke Studio Bangla season 2, she captivated everyone with her beautiful and soothing voice, where her soulful rendition breathed new life into the song.
A united chorus of ‘Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu’ after March 7 speech airs at Ctg’s MA Aziz Stadium
Much like Aleya, Hamida Banu shot to fame among the newer generation, leading them to discover and realize the marvel at the depth of the talent scattered in the many corners of Bangladesh.
Similarly, another rural talent Jahura Baul left her mark on audiences’ hearts with her powerful and enticing voice in season two’s another popular song “BonoBibi”. A respected member of her community and an idol for women artists, her influence over other rural women artists was reflected in the song’s presentation, in which the baul group of women whom she conducted, flourished and captivated audiences.
Even though Aleya Begum was accompanied by actor-singer Arfan Mredha Shiblu and popular musician-music director Emon Chowdhury, Hamida Banu was complemented by popular singer and CSB producer Shayan Chowdhury Arnob and Johura Baul and her team shared the stage with the magnificent Meghdol, they created their own spaces inside the mind of the audiences.
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These stories align deeply with the theme of this year's Women's Day, "Inspiring Inclusion," according to Coke Studio Bangla. This inclusivity not only empowers these women but also inspires others, demonstrating that talent and passion can shine brightly regardless of background or previous recognition, the platform states while emphasising that their stories serve as a powerful reminder that inclusion and empowerment can unlock a multitude of voices, enriching not only the music industry but also the cultural diversity of Bangladesh.