United News of Bangladesh

Popular Bangladeshi actor Anisur Rahman Milon has recently been honored with the prestigious ‘Best Humanitarian Award 2025’ at a grand ceremony held in Los Angeles, USA. Milon confirmed the news via a post on his social media handle after receiving the award on Thursday (August 21). “I’m honored to receive this award from the Church of Scientology, recognizing my contributions to the Greater Los Angeles community and beyond. Grateful for the acknowledgment and inspired to continue the work!” Milon wrote. Widely known for his versatile performances in numerous television dramas and films, Milon has long been a familiar face in Bangladesh’s entertainment industry. In recent years, however, he has been residing permanently in the United States, stepping away from regular engagements in Dhaka’s showbiz scene. Earlier, Milon revealed that he had joined the Actors’ Union in the United States, which has opened doors for him in mainstream Hollywood. He is now preparing to take on projects in the international arena. He is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), one of the most powerful unions representing actors in the U.S. Milon’s involvement in MR-9: Do or Die, a Bangladesh-US joint production, has already paved the way for his entry into Hollywood.  

Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) on Monday inaugurated a solo painting exhibition titled 'Ei Shooters pHawabibi' (Hawabibi In this City) by Dhaka-based visual artist Shaily Shrabonti at its La Galerie in Dhanmondi. Introducing Hawabibi as a mythical figure silently roaming the cityscape, the exhibition reflects on the cultural, social and symbolic forces shaping women’s lives. Shrabonti combines traditional Oriental art techniques with contemporary materials—including watercolor washes, acrylic, pen, clay and locally sourced elements—to depict how ancient and modern systems of control have historically confined women’s agency. Through this lens, the works explore the interplay of myth, memory and urban life in women’s experiences, highlighting subtle forms of resistance and the pursuit of freedom, identity and voice in patriarchal settings. ‘Shotoborshe Sultan’: Nasir Ali Mamun’s 65th solo photography exhibition begins Shrabonti, a Dhaka-based visual artist, completed her BFA and MFA in Oriental Art from the Faculty of Fine Art, Dhaka University. Her practice merges contemporary oriental techniques with mythological narratives, focusing on women’s resilience and transformation while reclaiming stories historically told for them. The exhibition, featuring 45–47 mixed-media works, will remain open to visitors till September 3. Visiting hours are from 3 pm to 9 pm, Monday through Saturday, at AFD’s gallery located at 26 Mirpur Road.

Avneet Kaur is preparing for the release of her upcoming film Love In Vietnam. During the trailer launch, she was asked about receiving support from prominent personalities on social media, a question prompted by the recent Virat Kohli incident. Responding, Avneet said, “May the love keep coming.” The controversy started on April 30 when Avneet posted photos on Instagram wearing a green crop top and printed wrap skirt. Fans quickly noticed that Virat Kohli had liked and then unliked the post, leading to a wave of comments such as, “Kohli saab what is this behaviour?” and “Akaay beta papa ko phone do.” As screenshots spread online, Virat clarified in an Instagram Story that the like was accidental while clearing his feed, urging people not to make assumptions. Amid the chatter, both Virat and Avneet were spotted at Wimbledon 2025, watching Novak Djokovic’s match against Alex de Minaur. Virat shared a post praising Djokovic’s performance, while Avneet also uploaded stories from the match. Virat and his wife Anushka Sharma, married since December 2017, are parents to daughter Vamika and son Akaay.

Veteran actor Farida Jalal has extended her best wishes to Aryan Khan for his upcoming directorial debut series The Ba**ds of Bollywood*. Speaking at the trailer launch of Love In Vietnam on Monday, Jalal fondly recalled meeting Shah Rukh Khan’s son on a film set when he was a child. “He has all my prayers. Yes, we met on set. He was very young, just a little boy. I’m very proud that he has now become a director. May God bless him with success,” she told reporters in Mumbai. Jalal, who has shared the screen with Shah Rukh Khan in films such as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Yes Boss, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, also reflected on the bond she developed with him over the years. She said playing Shah Rukh’s mother in multiple films made her feel a genuine mother-son connection with him. “Since he didn’t have a mother in his life, I always felt I should give him as much mamta (motherly love) as I could. It came naturally to me,” she said. Jalal added that her feelings for Aryan are like that of a grandmother, proud to see him step into the spotlight. Aryan’s debut series is set to premiere on Netflix on September 18.   Source: NDTV

The grand premiere of Bigg Boss 19 saw Salman Khan return as host with a candid revelation about his love life. While interacting with contestant Tanya Mittal, he admitted, “I have never experienced true love.” The remark reignited public interest in the actor’s much-discussed relationships, previously linked to Sangeeta Bijlani, Somy Ali, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Katrina Kaif. Rajinikanth’s ‘Coolie’ sees strong rebound at box office Earlier this year, Salman had shared his views on love and breakups on nephew Arhaan Khan’s podcast, advising people to move on quickly and value accountability in relationships. On the professional front, Salman will next appear in Battle of Galwan, portraying Colonel B Santosh Babu in a film based on the 2020 India-China border clash. Source: NDTV 

Rajinikanth’s action thriller Coolie recorded a significant bounce in domestic collections on its second Saturday, a week after its release. The film saw a 70% jump in India, earning an estimated Rs 10 crore nett on Saturday compared to Rs 5.85 crore on Friday, according to Sacnilk. With this, Coolie’s 10-day domestic total now stands at Rs 245 crore nett (Rs 291 crore gross). Overseas, the film continued its strong performance, taking in around $21 million (Rs 177 crore), pushing the worldwide gross after 10 days to Rs 468 crore. The surge helped Coolie surpass the lifetime earnings of recent Bollywood releases — Salman Khan’s Tiger 3 (Rs 464 crore) and Shah Rukh Khan’s Dunki (Rs 454 crore) — despite both being commercially successful. Industry analysts say Coolie is now on track to cross the Rs 500-crore mark worldwide early next week. Coolie vs War 2 Box Office: No Saiyaara-like boom for Rajinikanth or Hrithik Roshan If it does, it will become the fourth Tamil film to achieve this milestone, joining Rajinikanth’s 2.0 and Jailer, and Vijay’s Leo. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, Coolie features an ensemble cast including Nagarjuna, Shruti Haasan, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, and a cameo by Aamir Khan. The film opened to mixed reviews but has gained momentum at the box office in its second week. Source: NDTV 

Coke Studio Bangla has released its latest track ‘Baaji’ on Saturday, a fusion of urban folk and indigenous music that celebrates the cultural diversity of Bangladesh. Featuring renowned musician and composer Emon Chowdhury as both lead vocalist and music director, alongside singer-poet Hashim Mahmud, the song marks the fourth release of the platform’s much-anticipated Season 3. Penned by Hashim Mahmud, ‘Baaji’ tells a tender story of innocent love, inspired by the charm of a simple girl from Bangladesh. The lyrics are enriched by the voices and sounds drawn from different regions of the country, while Emon Chowdhury’s composition blends traditional instruments like the sarod with modern arrangements to create a cinematic soundscape. The song features contributions from several traditional groups and communities, highlighting Bangladesh’s diverse heritage. Among them are Tangail’s Dhowa Gaan-er Dol, known for their century-old tradition of singing while dancing in circular formations. Flautist Kyo U Prue Marma from Bandarban performs alongside his grandmother, Mrakoiching Marma, who sings in the Marma language — preserving songs that are at risk of fading away. The Bawm community of the Chittagong Hill Tracts adds a tribal dance performance, incorporating bamboo sticks to create percussive rhythms, while Manipuri pung drummers showcase the acrobatic Pung Cholom, adding another layer of cultural depth. Expressing his excitement, Emon Chowdhury said, “It is great to have Coke Studio Bangla return, and we are excited to present ‘Baaji’ to our incredible audience. This is a truly special song, one where every artist poured their heart into the recording. It feels like a harmonious blend of everything that represents Bangladesh, encapsulated in a single song.” ‘Baaji’ is now available on Spotify and the official YouTube channel of Coke Studio Bangla.

Ekushey Padak-winning photographer Nasir Ali Mamun’s 65th solo exhibition 'Shotoborshe Sultan' opened on Friday at Bengal Shilpalay in Dhanmondi, marking the birth centenary of legendary artist SM Sultan. Organised by the Bengal Foundation in collaboration with HSBC Bangladesh, the exhibition was inaugurated by Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur.  Renowned artist Monirul Islam, Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, and HSBC Bangladesh Chief Executive Officer Md Mahbub ur Rahman also attended the opening ceremony. The exhibition showcases 108 rare and powerful photographs of SM Sultan, captured by Mamun between 1977 and 1993. For the first time, exclusive items from Mamun's personal collection— including three of his teeth, handwritten letters, diary pages with writings and drawings, unpublished sketches, and original negatives— are on public display. Speaking at the inauguration, Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur said, “When we talk about Bangladesh’s modern artists, three names come to mind — Zainul Abedin, Quamrul Hassan, and SM Sultan. I am deeply moved by the way SM Sultan immortalised the vitality of working people; his depiction of muscular men and women, his portrayal of rural life, hardworking people, and the beauty of nature is truly extraordinary. Cultural patronage is essential, and if more institutions like Bengal come forward, future Sultans and Zainuls will emerge.” Eminent artist and SM Sultan National and International Birth Centenary Celebration Committee Convener Monirul Islam called the event historic, saying, “I have known Mamun for 40 years; when he started photographing, resources were limited but passion was abundant. As a portrait photographer, Mamun is among the few globally significant names; and this body of work on Sultan will remain a milestone.” The star of the exhibition and Member Secretary of the SM Sultan National and International Birth Centenary Celebration Committee Nasir Ali Mamun said, “Sultan was a majestic artist, deeply rooted in soil and nature." "I silently followed him with my camera — it was not easy, but it was my inspired attempt to document the fusion of his art and life. Through these frames, I tried to uncover the mystery of his life and become one with him,” Nasir Ali Mamun reminisced about his beloved artist, SM Sultan. He also reiterated his call for establishing a photography museum in Bangladesh. “I have initiated an archive called 'Photoseum', but such initiative should have been done by the government. We must establish a photography museum with support from banks and financial institutions so that creative cultural projects like these are preserved for future generations,” Nasir Ali Mamun added. Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman, HSBC Bangladesh Chief Executive Officer Md Mahbub ur Rahman also spoke at the inaugural ceremony, which was also joined by Bengal Foundation Chairman Abul Khair, and the event was hosted by Luva Nahid Choudhury, Director General of Bengal Foundation. On the occasion of the exhibition, a special commemorative catalogue titled ‘Seeding the Soul’ was also unveiled at the event, shedding light on Sultan’s life and artistic philosophy. The exhibition will remain open to visitors every day (except Sundays) from 4 pm to 8 pm until September 27 at Bengal Shilpalay, House 42, Road 27, Dhanmondi.  

Dhallywood megastar Shakib Khan on Friday unveiled the official poster of his upcoming film 'Prince: Once Upon A Time in Dhaka.' Sharing the poster on his verified Facebook page, Shakib wrote: “The beginning of a new chapter has been announced — the city will now recognize its true hero! Here comes the Myth in motion — #PRINCE: Once Upon A Time In Dhaka. A story where the city meets its legend.” Directed by Abu Hayat Mahmud and produced by Shirin Sultana under the banner of Creative Land, 'Prince' is slated for release on Eid-ul-Fitr, 2026. Shakib Khan slams piracy, praises audience support at special screening of ‘Taandob’  Director Abu Hayat Mahmud also expressed his excitement in another Facebook post, calling 'Prince' his debut directorial venture and “much like the first child.” “Creative Land proudly presents its first cinematic journey — PRINCE. Produced by Shirin Sultana, directed by Abu Hayat Mahmud and led by the one and only Megastar Shakib Khan,” Mahmud wrote. The poster shows Shakib Khan in a striking pose with his back to the audience, arms raised against a crimson-toned city backdrop. Surrounding him are raised hands wielding firearms, hinting at an intense urban saga. Described as a story where “the city meets its legend,” the film marks a new collaboration between Shakib Khan and director Abu Hayat Mahmud. Fans have already flooded social media with excitement, anticipating another blockbuster from the Dhallywood superstar.

Florida authorities are continuing their investigation into the death of professional wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, whose passing last month was ruled a heart attack by the medical examiner. The Clearwater Police Department said Thursday that “the unique nature of this case has required us to interview multiple witnesses and obtain medical records from various providers, and our detectives continue to do so.” Hogan, born Terry Bollea, died on July 24 at age 71 after paramedics and police responded to a 911 call at his beachfront Clearwater home. Police body camera footage and details of the call have not been released, as the investigation is ongoing. The department noted that while there is no evidence of foul play, investigators are reviewing medical records and consulting with Hogan’s family, including his son Nick and daughter Brooke. “We plan to meet with the family, brief them on the case, and share the results before closing it and releasing it to the public,” the statement said. No timeline for public disclosure was provided. Hulk Hogan died of heart attack, says medical examiner Hogan, a WWE icon, headlined the first WrestleMania in 1985 and won at least six WWE championships. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, removed in 2015 over past racial remarks, and reinstated in 2018. A private funeral service was held on August 5 in Largo, Florida. His planned cremation was reportedly postponed, with his daughter Brooke offering to fund an autopsy amid questions about his death.   Source: Agency