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Actress Kabori on life support
Legendary actress Sarah Begum Kabori was put on life support on Thursday afternoon at the Sheikh Russel National Gastroliver Institute and Hospital in the capital.
The two-time national award winner actress had been infected with coronavirus.
Updates about her condition was shared by her son Shaker Chishti in a video message.
He said Kabori’s oxygen levels had been “fluctuating quite a bit”. “Sometimes it goes up, which is a good sign, but sometimes it's not, which is not a very good sign,” he said.
“We’re still not sure if she would need any further treatment or if it can get any complicated than it is already. We’re still hoping that she’ll be back and that she’s fighting," Chisti said.
He said his mother is still in fighting spirits.
"She's still in the senses, she spoke to me and I gave her my love. She's praying and she wants all of you to pray as well,” he said. “She constantly kept saying that I should take care of my youngest brother and asked about her other sons and everybody including our family members, friends, her supporters and fans."
"Please pray for her so that she can come back healthy and wouldn't require any complicated procedures," Chishti said.
Kabori was shifted to the ICU at Sheikh Russel National Gastroliver Institute and Hospital on April 8, where she is undergoing treatment for COVID-19. She was previously being treated at Kurmitola General Hospital after testing positive for coronavirus on April 5.
She has completed the shooting of her newly-directed film ‘Ei Tumi Sei Tumi’, for which she started shooting in March 2020. Eminent singer Sabina Yasmin is debuting as a music director in the film.
Born as Meena Pal on July 19, 1950, Kabori started her glorious journey on the silver screen at the age of 13 with the film ‘Sutorang’ directed by Subhash Dutta.
She received the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in ‘Sareng Bou’ in 1978 and later honoured with the Life Time Achievement award in 2013.
Kabori was elected a Member of Parliament from the Narayanganj-4 constituency on an Awami League ticket. She contested in the election in 2008 and served until 2014.
'Nothing less than a giant': Rapper-actor DMX dies at 50
DMX, the iconic hip-hop artist behind the songs “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” and “Party Up (Up in Here)” whose distinctively gruff voice and thoughtful messages in his rhymes made him one of rap’s biggest stars, has died, according to a family statement Friday. He was 50.
The Grammy-nominated performer died after suffering “catastrophic cardiac arrest,” according to a statement from the hospital in White Plains, New York, where he died. He was rushed there from his home April 2.
His family’s statement said DMX, whose birth name was Earl Simmons, died with relatives by his side after several days on life support.
“Earl was a warrior who fought till the very end. He loved his family with all of his heart, and we cherish the times we spent with him,” the family said, adding that his music “inspired countless fans across the world.”
Memorial plans were not yet set.
DMX — who rapped with a trademark raspy delivery that was often paired with growls, barks and “What!” as an ad-lib — built a multiplatinum career in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but he also struggled with drug addiction and legal problems that repeatedly put him behind bars.
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“His message of triumph over struggle, his search for the light out of darkness, his pursuit of truth and grace brought us closer to our own humanity,” his record label, Def Jam Recordings, said in a statement describing him as “nothing less than a giant.”
Fellow hip hop artists remembered him likewise, with Eve praising him as “one of the most special people I have ever met” and Nas calling him “Gods poet” in an Instagram post.
DMX made a splash in 1998 with his first studio album, “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot,” which debuted No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The multiplatinum-selling album was anchored by several hits including “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem,” “Get At Me Dog,” “Stop Being Greedy” and “How It’s Goin’ Down.”
DMX followed up with four straight chart-topping albums including “... And Then There Was X,” “Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood,” “The Great Depression” and “Grand Champ.” He released seven albums, earned three Grammy nominations and was named favorite rap/hip-hop artist at the 2000 American Music Awards.
DMX arrived on the rap scene around the same time as Jay-Z, Ja Rule and others who dominated the charts and emerged as platinum-selling acts. They were all part of rap crews, too: DMX fronted the Ruff Ryders collective, which helped launch the careers of Grammy winners Eve and Swizz Beatz, and relaunch The Lox, formerly signed to Bad Boy Records. Ruff Ryders had success on the charts and on radio with its “Ryde or Die” compilation albums.
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Along with his musical career, DMX paved his way as an actor. He starred in the 1998 film “Belly” and appeared in 2000′s “Romeo Must Die” with Jet Li and Aaliyah. DMX and Aaliyah teamed up for “Come Back in One Piece” on the film’s soundtrack.
The rapper would later open Aaliyah’s tribute music video, “Miss You,” alongside her other friends and collaborators, including Missy Elliott, Lil’ Kim and Queen Latifah, after Aaliyah’s 2001 death in a plane crash at age 22.
The rapper also starred in 2001′s “Exit Wounds” with Steven Seagal and 2003′s “Cradle 2 the Grave” with Li.
But while DMX made his mark as one of hip-hop’s most recognizable names for his rap artistry and as an actor, the rapper was personally stifled by his legal battles — he was repeatedly arrested and jailed within a decade — and drug addiction. His addiction first took hold at age 14 when smoked a marijuana cigarette that was laced with cocaine.
“Earl Simmons was a wonderful, caring father, and a sensitive, thoughtful man,” said Lyor Cohen, a former executive at Def Jam, in a statement. “Unfortunately, Dark Man X took over and ran amok, tormented and struggling to find the light. ... DMX gave me the inspiration to keep going at Def Jam when rap became soft and silly.”
In 2010, he was sentenced to a year in prison for violating terms of his probation. After he was admitted to rehab numerous times over the next year, he said he had finally beat his drug addiction.
First responders helped bring DMX back to life after he was found in a hotel parking lot in New York in 2016. The rapper said he suffered from asthma.
A couple years later, DMX was sentenced to a year in prison for tax fraud. Prosecutors said he concocted a multiyear scheme to hide millions of dollars in income from the IRS and get around nearly $2 million in tax liabilities.
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After his release, DMX planned a 32-date tour to mark the 20th anniversary of “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot.” But the rapper canceled a series of shows to check himself into a rehab facility in 2019. In an Instagram post, his team said he apologized for the canceled shows and thanked his fans for the continued support.
Besides his legal troubles, DMX took the initiative to help the less fortunate. He gave a group of Philadelphia men advice during a surprise appearance at a homeless support group meeting in 2017, and helped a Maine family with its back-to-school purchases a couple years later.
Last year, DMX faced off against Snoop Dogg in a Verzuz battle, which drew more than 500,000 viewers.
“You can’t be a fan and not feel empathy for him in his journey,” hip-hop and electronic music producer Flying Lotus said in an interview while DMX was hospitalized this week. “You think of ‘Belly’ and all the great stuff that he was part of. But he was dealt such a weird hand, I think, with the drug stuff. And I just have empathy.”
Survivors include his 15 children and his mother.
DMX pleaded guilty in 2004 after he posed as an undercover federal agent and crashed his SUV through a security gate at New York’s Kennedy Airport. He was arrested in 2008 on drug and animal cruelty charges following an overnight raid on his house in Phoenix. He tried to barricade himself in his bedroom but emerged when a SWAT team entered his home.
Tangia Zaman Methila wins Miss Universe Bangladesh 2020
Beauty pageant Miss Universe Bangladesh 2020 crowned Tangia Zaman Methila as the winner on Saturday.Overcoming nine other finalists, Methila was crowned Miss Universe Bangladesh 2020 by Bollywood actress Chitrangda Singh at the grand finale of the pageant arranged at the Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden in Dhaka.
A professional model and actress, Methila will represent Bangladesh in Miss Universe 2020 coronation ceremony on May 16, 2021, in Hollywood, Florida in the USA.
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Previously, Methila was the inaugural Miss Supranational Bangladesh 2019. She is a brand ambassador to several national and international brands in Bangladesh including Tresemme and more. She has also been the showstoppers of major fashion week and fashion shows in the country.
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Besides her modeling career, Methila is also an alumna of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) in Dhaka.
The coronation ceremony was broadcast on Rtv. Bollywood actress Chitrangda Singh joined the grand finale as the guest judge along with Tahsan Khan, Bidya Sinha Saha Mim, Irene Sommer Tilger and Mehruz Munir.
In 2019, Shirin Akter Shela made history as the first-ever Miss Universe Bangladesh, also becoming the first person from a Muslim-majority country in South Asia to compete for the title of Miss Universe. She was unplaced at Miss Universe 2019 that was taken place in Atlanta, Georgia in the USA.
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The Miss Universe 2020 coronation ceremony was not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making Zozibini Tunzi from South Africa the longest-reigning Miss Universe.
There are now 76 candidates, including Methila, confirmed to compete in Miss Universe 2020.
Abul Hayat tests positive for Covid-19
Prominent Bangladeshi actor Abul Hayat has tested positive for Covid-19.
His daughter Natasha Hayat on Thursday evening confirmed the news in her Facebook post.
‘Abbu, unfortunately, tested positive for Covid-19 and had to be hospitalized last night with mild symptoms,’ Natasha’s Facebook status said.
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Abul Hayat is currently stable and under observation of the doctors, she confirmed.
She requested in her post to anyone who has recently recovered (3 weeks) from Covid-19 of A+Blood group for donating Convalescent Plasma to Abul Hayat.
Remembering Shahnaz Rahmatullah
Tuesday marked the second death anniversary of legendary Bengali singer Shahnaz Rahmatullah, often referred to as the “Queen of modern Bangla music”.
The singer died of a cardiac failure at her Baridhara residence in the capital on March 23, 2019, midnight, at the age of 67.
Born in Dhaka to M Fazlul Haque and Aasia Haque on January 2, 1952, the year of the historic Bengali Language Movement, Shahnaz sang a number of iconic Bengali modern songs and cemented her everlasting legacy as one of the greatest Bengali singers of all time.
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With her mother’s wise tutelage, Shahnaz’s professional experience as a thriving music artiste began at the age of 11, as a playback singer of the movie Notun Shur (1963).
She appeared on television for the first time in 1964 and marked her Golden Jubilee as a regular music artiste in 2014.
Many of her legendary songs are considered as the remarkable patriotic songs in history, most of which she sang after the Liberation War.
Ek Nodi Rokto Periye, which she sang for eminent filmmaker Khan Ataur Rahman's majestic film Abar Tora Manush Ho (1973), ranked 9th position on BBC’s survey of 20 greatest Bangla songs of all times.
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Written and composed by Khan Ataur Rahman, the song recalls the contribution of the freedom fighters during the glorious Liberation War, recalling how they snatched and earned the victory over a blooded journey of nine months.
Three of her other evergreen Bengali patriotic songs -- Ekbar Jete De Na Amar Chotto Sonar Gaye, Ek Tara Tui Desher Kotha and collaboration in the song Joy Bangla, Banglar Joy -- were also ranked 15th, 19th and 13th position on the BBC survey, marking her the only female singer with the highest number of all-time best Bengali songs.
Her other popular songs include Amar Desher Matir Gondhe, Sagorer Teer Theke, Je Chhilo Drishtir Shimanay, and Phuler Kane Bhramar Ese. In her illustrious career spanning over six decades, she also sang a number of ghazals.
Shahnaz Rahmatullah’s elder brother Anwar Pervez was one of the leading music directors in the country, and the director behind her iconic songs. Her other brother Zafar Iqbal was a famous actor who acted in over 150 films. He was also a singer, known for his iconic song Shukhe Theko O Amar Nondini and for his solo album Kano Tumi Kandaley.
For her legendary career and contributions to Bengali music, she was awarded Ekushey Padak in 1992. Her other accolades include President's Pride of Performance Medal (1965), Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer (1990), Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Award and Bangladesh Chalachitra Sangbadik Samity Award.
Bangladesh-Indian dance show pays tribute to Bangabandhu
Organised as part of celebrations to mark the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence, a special dance show enthralled the audience at the National Theatre Hall on Friday.
Marvel's 'Falcon' promises action, explores race, patriotism
When Steve Rogers handed Sam Wilson his Captain America shield at the end of Marvel's massive 2019 event “Avengers: Endgame,” Wilson tried it on for a beat. “How does it feel?" the wrinkled Rogers asked. “Like it's someone else's,” Wilson responded.
'Mank' leads Academy Awards nominations with 10 nods
David Fincher’s “Mank” led nominations to the 93rd Academy Awards with 10 nods Monday, and for the first time, two women — Chloé Zhao and Emerald Fennell — were nominated for best director.
Oscar nominations Monday could belong to 'Mank' and Netflix
Nominations to the 93rd Academy Awards on Monday will look — in more ways than one — unlike they ever have before.