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Cats strut their stuff on the ramp for first time
First-ever cat ramp show was held in the capital on Friday.
The show started around 3:30pm in the capital’s Jamuna Future Park and continued till 7:30pm. Before that, more than 3,000 cat lovers – mostly from the capital -- registered to participate in the event, said Md Alamgir, a key organiser of the event.
Apart from this, two more contests namely “Jemon Khushi Temon Sajo,” and “Khadok Biral” were organised on this occasion, he added.
Artcell releases third album after 17 years
Popular Bangladeshi progressive metal band Artcell has finally released their much-anticipated third album after 17 years on Thursday.
Primarily, the band has released the album exclusively on GAAN app, and revealed that the entire album will be available on Artcell and G-Series official YouTube channel, Spotify and other major streaming platforms from March 9.
Artcell fans can purchase the album through the app for Tk 300, and the album features six brand new songs of the band.
"OTRITIO" is a very special album for us, like many of our fans out there. After a long gap of 17 years, our third Studio Album is finally coming out on 23.02.23 (Early Access)," Artcell recently announced on its official Facebook page.
Read: Mexican musician finds refuge in saxophone after acid attack
Marking the long-awaited album release, Artcell also announced an exclusive limited edition box set for their fans, featuring a number of goodies such as t-shirt, wristband, keyring, flag, poster, album booklet and more, alongside the album. "We really wanted to mark this occasion with something very special. That's why we produced the "Otritio Limited Edition Box Set"! If you're a collector you might want to buy one of these as soon as we've really made a very limited quantity of these boxes," Artcell recently announced on its Facebook page.
The current line-up of the band features George Lincoln D'Costa (vocals, guitars), Kazi Faisal Ahmed (lead guitar), Saef Al Nazi Cézanne (bass), Kazi Shazzadul Asheqeen Shaju (drums) and Iqbal Asif Jewel (lead guitar and music producer).
Artcelss's second studio album 'Oniket Prantor' was released in 2006. Since then, fans of the band across the home and beyond have been anticipating the third album.
Mexican musician finds refuge in saxophone after acid attack
María Elena Ríos has conflicting feelings about her saxophone: She once blamed the instrument for bringing her to the brink of death — but it also has been her salvation.
Ríos, 29, thought her career as a musician and her devotion to her saxophone were what led her former boyfriend — an influential politician — to hire the men who splashed acid onto her face and body, disfiguring her. Later, she learned he simply couldn't accept that she had broken off their relationship.
Some of the attackers and the ex-boyfriend are in jail, but Ríos still had to come to terms with her instrument. Her love of the saxophone, in the end, is helping heal the psychological scars left by the terrifying attack.
“We are reconciling, little by little,” Ríos said of the musical instrument. “I hated it, because I thought it was responsible” for the 2019 attack in Mexico's southern state of Oaxaca. She's performed live since then, but still wears a mask covering her lower face.
“It bothered my attacker a lot that I was a musician," Ríos recounts, "because he said we musicians were vagrants, poverty stricken, that we just took drugs and that when I went to concerts I probably participated in orgies.”
The ex-politician who allegedly ordered the attack is being held in jail while awaiting trial, as are two other men, but another remains at large.
Meanwhile, Ríos has joined a movement calling for greater punishments for acid attacks and says the saxophone is her “sword” in that battle on behalf of victims.
Mexico City legislators have proposed a bill bearing her nickname, “Malena,” which would classify acid attacks as a distinct, serious crime equivalent to attempted femicide. Currently they are treated as simple assault or bodily injury.
Acid attacks are most common in South Asia, but also have been documented in many other parts of the world, including Latin America.
The Carmen Sánchez Foundation, started in 2021 to highlight the issue in Mexico, says government health data from 2022 suggests more than 100 women were attacked by chemicals or some kind of corrosive agent, though only 28 were reported to authorities.
Ríos remembers having to choose, at age 9, between playing soccer and joining one of the musical bands that are a popular community activity in the rural villages in Oaxaca.
“I am not her anymore. I am not the beautiful young woman who played the saxophone anymore,” said Ríos. “Today I can say I have been forced to become a defender of my own rights, and a defender of the rights of other fellow women survivors.”
She was hospitalized for five months after the attack, and still recalls the sadness in her parents’ eyes when she awoke in hospital.
She now attends musical classes in Mexico City, where she has taken refuge since the attack. The federal government has provided her with bodyguards because her attacker was wealthy and influential.
Ríos said she and her family were harassed before the attack, when she tried to break off the relationship. She says the harassment continues, and that she lives in constant fear for her life.
The man accused of ordering the attack, Juan Manuel Vera Carrizal, was a local legislator and businessman. He has declared himself innocent and his lawyers deny he had any involvement.
Even though he was jailed and expelled from his political party in 2020, Ríos says he still has influence.
In January he was almost released to house arrest after a judge tried to reclassify the crime, applying rules for a lesser offense. But because her case has gained has gained national attention, the attempt failed.
Music is now a refuge for Ríos. “When I begin to assemble my saxophone, I feel like I am putting myself together,” she says.
Last year she was invited to play on stage for the first time after the attack. It was at the annual Vive Latino music festival in Mexico City with the rock group Maldita Vecindad.
She says it made her feel “eternal."
14 cultural platforms receive patronage from Youth Global Foundation
Youth Global Foundation, one of the largest organizations working for the youths of the country, is providing patronage to 14 arts and culture platforms.
Dr. Seema Hamid, chairperson of Youth Global Foundation, made the announcement on February 16 while speaking at an event, titled “Ashun Alaap Koriye Dei”, in Dhaka.
The 14 arts and culture platforms receiving patronage from Youth Global Foundation have developed under Gurukul Online Learning Network. The platforms are: Sitar Gurukul, Violin Gurukul, Bansuri Gurukul, Amar Rabindranath, Amar Nazrul, Acting Gurukul, Film Gurukul, Fine Arts Gurukul, Recitation Gurukul, Dance Gurukul, Tabla Gurukul, Classical Gurukul, Folk Gurukul, and Music Gurukul.
These platforms are working in 14 specialized disciplines of arts and culture.
According to the organizers, Youth Global Foundation will provide scholarship to one student or researcher from each of these platforms. In addition, every year the foundation will facilitate the 14 platforms in honouring individuals and organizations making special contributions to relevant cultural fields.
“Youth Global Foundation will act as an accelerator for these platforms. They have been working on the educational aspect of the fields. Now, they will work to strengthen and expand the base of these fields under the auspices of our foundation,” Dr. Seema Hamid said.
‘Murir Tin’: Coke Studio Bangla launches season 2 with nod to local dialects
The much-acclaimed Coke Studio Bangla returned to enthral music lovers with its second season on Tuesday with its maiden track ‘Murir Tin’, featuring a unique amalgamation of three local dialects in the month of International Mother Language Day.
Released with festivities all over the country with multiple launching events marking the celebration of both Pahela Falgun 1429 and Valentine’s Day, the song is made in Sylheti, Chattogram and Khulna's dialects with vocals and rap by Riad Hasan, Pollob Vai, and Towfique Ahmed.
The song was launched at around 6 pm with launching ceremonies at six locations across four divisions - Rabindra Sarobar and American International University Bangladesh (AIUB) campus in Dhaka; Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) in Khulna, CRB and Chittagong University in Chattogram, and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) campus in Sylhet.
At the launching event in Rabindra Sarobar, singer and Coke Studio Bangla Curator-Producer Shayan Chowdhury Arnob and singer-actor-music director Pritom Hasan joined an influx of festive crowd.
The song was streamed live simultaneously at all the launching venues and Coke Studio Bangla’s Facebook page and YouTube channel at the same time.
“#MurirTin is a melting pot where the cultures and the people of Bangladesh come and go. Amid a crowd of common people, there lies #RealMagic,” Coke Studio Bangla describes the rhythmic and funky-upbeat track in the YouTube video of the track.
It added, “The clunky local bus used to roam the streets of Bangladesh back in the ’80s. Even though the lyrics are sung by people from different regions in their native language, they all unanimously call it “Murir Tin” because of the rattling sound it used to make.”
“This is a unifying factor for the people of Bangladesh – where even in different languages, they all share the same experiences - the journeys we take, the people we meet, and the situations we encounter. It is about the people and cultures in transit, it is the mix of all the colours that fill up our beautiful country.”
‘Murir Tin’ is written and composed by Riad Hasan, while the song’s Sylheti Rap part is written and performed by Pollob Vai and the Khulna Rap is written and performed by Towfique Ahmed.
Season one’s much-acclaimed song ‘Bulbuli’-famed composer Shuvendu Das Shuvo composed this song alongside arranging the music, while Adit Rahman assisted with additional music arrangement.
Chief Sound Engineer for the song is Faizan R Ahmad (Buno) who also mastered the song, mixed by Ifte Khairul Alam Shuvo. Jannatul Firdous Akbar, Shanila Islam and Rubayat Rehman collaborated as the backing vocals for the track.
The video production of the song was presented in a new format, inspired by the other international and regional versions of Coke Studio. The music video is made by Dope Productions Private Limited, and the video was directed by Krishnendu Chattopaddhyay.
Coke Studio Bangla is produced by Grey Advertising Bangladesh Limited, with Syed Gousul Alam Shaon being the Creative Producer. Grameenphone is the official telco partner of this season, while international streaming platform Spotify is the season’s official audio streaming partner.
Boi Mela, Pahela Falgun & Valentine's: Visitors around DU campus spoilt for choice
Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2023 has doubled the festive mood and joy among the students and the people who came to celebrate Pahela Falgun or Valentine's Day or both at the Dhaka University campus area on Tuesday.
Since the morning students, people from different professions and irrespective of colour, creed or religion started gathering in the Dhaka University area wearing colourful Panjabi and Shari as the area has traditionally been a venue for Pahela Falgun and Valentine's Day celebration, while Boi Mela takes place at nearby Bangla Academy every year.
Besides the huge arrangements of Bosonto Utsab Udzapon committee at the Bakultola of Fine Arts faculty of Dhaka University, several programs have been arranged in Dhaka University area like ‘Somogit Bosonto Utsob' at the historical BotTola of Dhaka, three-day cultural festival at the department of political science and Sangit Utsab at the faculty of Business Studies of Dhaka University to welcome Spring, the king of all season.
Marking the special day, various floating stalls of flowers and food almost everywhere in the campus area have been set to meet the demands of visitors. Lower markets are busy stocking red roses for the day.
Abid, an eleven-year-old boy who is selling flowers and floral bands walking around busy areas of campus, said that he came in this area from Mouchak of the capital in the morning to sell flowers hoping for better profit.
“My mother sent me here to sell flowers as many people from different area came here to observe the day and they buy flowers from us. From the morning I have bagged around 800 taka,” he said.
Besides, flower sellers are also waiting to celebrate the day with massive stocks of roses and bouquets for people who are eagerly waiting to celebrate the day with their loved ones. The flower shops at the Shahabag crossing were seen very busy and filled with the traffic of customers.
Rihanna is pregnant again, rep says after Super Bowl show
Rihanna was pregnant with her second child as she performed her Super Bowl halftime show Sunday.
The singer’s representative confirmed the pregnancy shortly after she ended her 13-minute set at Super Bowl 57. She hovered high at times as she performed a number of hits including “We Found Love,” “Diamonds” and “Work” during a halftime break between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The baby bump that was visible in the tight clothes she wore under her baggy red jumpsuit set off a wave of social media speculation that she might be pregnant again.
Rihanna, 34, has a 9-month-old son with rapper A$AP Rocky.
During her media preview Thursday, Rihanna said she was initially unsure about taking on the challenge of performing during a time when she was three months postpartum and wondered “should I be making major decisions like this right now? I might regret this.”
“But when you become a mom, there’s something that just happens where you feel like you can take on the world, you can do anything,” Rihanna said. “The Super Bowl is one of the biggest stages of the world. As scary as that was, because I hadn’t been on stage in seven years, there’s something exhilarating about the challenge of it all.”
Rihanna said had to figure out how to fit some of her biggest songs into her 13-minute set.
“The setlist was the biggest challenge,” she said. “That was the hardest, hardest part. Deciding how to maximize 13 minutes but also celebrate — that’s what this show is going to be. It’s going to be a celebration of my catalog in the best way that we could have put it together.′
A nine-time Grammy Award-winner, Rihanna has 14 No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits, including “We Found Love,” “Work,” “Umbrella” and “Disturbia.”
How a heartbreak story inspired the next Dhaka Art Summit theme
Something incredible has happened. Dhaka Art Summit, now in its sixth edition, is incredible – that has already been established through the excitement demonstrated by hundreds of thousands of art connoisseurs, collectors, practitioners, enthusiasts and just curious general public from Bangladesh and beyond. But what’s more incredible is getting the inspiration for the theme of the next Dhaka Art Summit from a visitor.
Diana Campbell Betancourt, artistic director of Samdani Art Foundation and chief curator of Dhaka Art Summit, shared more on this with UNB in an exclusive interview.
Harry Styles wins album of the year Grammy; Beyoncé triumphs
Harry Styles won album of the year at Sunday’s Grammy Awards, taking home the top honor on a night that Beyoncé dominated and became the ceremony’s most decorated artist.
Beyoncé won her 32nd award, breaking a 26-year-old record. But as in years past, the album of the year honor eluded her.
Styles took home three awards Sunday. “I’m so inspired by every artist in this category,” said the teary-eyed singer. “A lot of different times of my life, I’ve listened to everyone in these categories. It’s so important to remember that there is no such thing as best.”
Still, Beyoncé stands alone on her Grammy throne and had the support of the room throughout the night, with winners frequently referencing her and her influence on them.
“I’m trying not to be too emotional,” the superstar said after her historic win as her husband Jay-Z stood and applauded her. The singer thanked her late uncle, her parents, Jay-Z and her children for supporting her. “I’m just trying to receive this night. I want to thank God for protecting me. Thank you, God.”
Beyoncé won for best R&B song for “Cuff It,” dance-electric music recording for “Break My Soul,” traditional R&B performance for “Plastic Off the Sofa” and dance-electric album for “Renaissance,” which is also nominated for album of the year.
Lizzo won record of the year for “About Damn Time,” delivering a rousing speech that brought many in the audience, including Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Adele, to their feet.
“Me and Adele were having a good time, rooting for our friends. This is an amazing night. This is so unexpected,” Lizzo said, dedicating her award to Prince.
“I wanted to make the world a better place, so I had to be that change to make the world a better place. Now, I look around and see these songs are about loving your body and feeling comfortable in your skin and feeling good.”
Jazz singer Samara Joy won best new artist, shrugging off challenges by such acts as Wet Led, Anitta and Maneskin. The New Yorker was virtually in tears when she collected the award and noted that her little brother was her date. “I’m so, so grateful. Thank you.” She has released two albums as a lead artist and also won the Grammy for best jazz vocal album earlier in the night.
Also Read:Grammys fashion: Lizzo, Doja Cat, Styles wow on red carpet
Beyoncé missed being in the room when she tied Solti’s record, which stood since 1997. Host Trevor Noah said she was on her way to the ceremony but blamed Los Angeles traffic for not being in person to accept it. The song was written by several writers including Beyonce, The-Dream, Nile Rodgers and Raphael Saadiq.
Once Beyoncé — the night’s leading nominee — finally arrived, Noah presented her with the best R&B song award at her table.
Veteran singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt shrugged off big-name rivals like Adele, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé to win the song of the year award. “I’m so surprised. I don’t know what to say,” a visibly stunned Raitt said, adding that the song “Just Like That” explores organ donation. It capped a night when Raitt won two other Grammys — for best Americana performance and best American roots song.
A who’s who of hip-hop royalty took the stage for an epic, rousing 15 minute tribute to the genre’s 50th anniversary. The performance included Grandmaster Flash doing part of his seminal hit “The Message,” Run DMC, Chuck D and Flavor Flav along with Ice-T, Queen Latifah, Busta Rhymes and Nelly all taking the stage.
It ended with everyone on the stage and LL Cool J shouting “multi-generational! Fifty years!”
Bad Bunny opened the show with a festive, high-energy performance that brought many of the audience including Taylor Swift who rose to her feet and danced near her table at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena.
Styles won the main telecast’s first award for best pop vocal album for “Harry’s House.” The singer said recording the song was one of the “greatest experiences of my life. It’s been my greatest joy.”
Sam Smith and Kim Petras won best pop duo-group performance for their song “Unholy.” Petras said Smith wanted Petras to make the acceptance speech because “I’m the first transgender woman to win this award.”
“I want to thank all the incredible transgender legends before me who kicked these doors open for me so I could be here tonight,” said Petras, who made a reference to friend and Grammy-nominated musician Sophie, who died after an accidental fall in Athens, Greece in 2021. “You told me this would happen. I always believed in me. Thank you so much for your inspiration, Sophie. I adore you, and your inspiration will forever be in my music.”
Petras thanked Madonna for being a tremendous supporter of LGBTQ rights.
“I don’t think I could be here without Madonna,” Petras said. “My mother, I grew up next to a highway in nowhere Germany. And my mother believed me that I was a girl. I wouldn’t be here without her and her support.”
During the in memoriam segment, the Grammys recognized the lives of Loretta Lynn, Migos rapper Takeoff and Christine McVie with several star-studded performers paying them homage. The touching performances included Kacey Musgraves singing “Coal Miner’s Daughter” in tribute to Lynn; Quavo and the Maverick City Music hit the stage to honor his nephew Takeoff with the song “Without You;” and Sheryl Crow, Mick Fleetwood and Bonnie Raitt performed “Songbird” to remember McVie.
Kendrick Lamar won sixth career trophy for best rap performance for “The Heart Part 5” and also won best rap album for his studio offering, “Mr. Morales & The Big Steppers.”
“You know, as entertainers, we say things to provoke thoughts and feelings and emotions,” he said. “So making this record is one of my toughest. … I would like to thank the culture for allowing me to evolve in order to make this. I finally found imperfection with this album.”
4th Bangla-India film festival to showcase rich shared cultural heritage
The 4th Bangla-India international film festival began at Delhi’s Siri Fort auditorium on Friday.
The festival was inaugurated by Shaban Mahmood, Minister (Press) at the Bangladesh High Commission in India as the chief guest.
Shaban Mahmood spoke at the discussion moderated by popular filmmaker Ashish Ranjan Das and said programme like these increase people to people contact and usher better understanding of each other.
The film festival that started in 2017 was interrupted by the pandemic for a few years.
Read: 9th Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival begins Saturday
The three-day long film festival will showcase films from Bangladesh and West Bengal, said a media release.
Recently released popular Bangladeshi cinema Hawa will be screened on February 5.
In addition, two feature films of acclaimed director Gautam Ghose will also be screened at the festival.