United News of Bangladesh

The ongoing Arka Fashion Week has already garnered a huge response from the festive attendees, and this four-day fashion carnival saw an influx of crowds every day, joining different segments. Friday marked the second day of Arka FW, which is currently ongoing at Aloki in the capital’s Gulshan-Tejgaon Link Road from June 13-16, and the second day of Arka FW featured a total of 8 runway shows in four different slots. One of the major highlights of the festive Friday was the engaging seminar on Tangail Tant in the early afternoon, titled ‘Tangail Tant Weaving the Future: The Role of Tradition in Contemporary Fashion’ featuring esteemed panellists including Kizzy Tahnin, Program Officer of Culture at UNESCO; Md Ayub Ali, Project Lead of Handloom Board; Raghunath Basak, President of Tangail Saree Byabshayee Shomiti; Chandra Shekhar Shaha, President of National Craft Council of Bangladesh (NCCB); and Sarmily Sarkar, Head & Assistant Professor of Fashion Studies Department at BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology (BUFT). Renowned corporate personality Zeeshan Kingshuk Huq moderated the session. Second Arka Fashion Week begins in style The first fashion show took place after the seminar, featuring Tangail Tant-themed dresses curated by Afsana Ferdousi who instructed 15 design students who went to Tangail to buy fabric, make two runway outfits each and showcase on the inaugural runway show of this year’s Arka FW. Azim Uddaula's show was in the second part of this slot, featuring men's clothing of various designs and cuts.  

The much anticipated second Arka Fashion begin at the Aloki Convention Center, Tejgaon in the capital on Thursday, intending to democratize fashion along with other exciting offerings. Initiated by Arka Studio, the Summer edition of Arka Fashion Week comes with a commitment to provide equitable opportunities to all kinds of designers and brands in Bangladesh, after its massively successful inaugural edition back in October last year. The first day of the four-day fashion week saw a bustling Marketplace with 80 stalls and was alive with a brilliant assortment of fashion and cultural festivals, despite the afternoon rain, resuming the transforming journey for the nation's fashion sector. The event is featuring specially curated runway shows, clothes and accessories by the country’s best brands and designers, a dedicated food zone and diverse musical performances every night, along with its other exciting offerings - a dedicated Marketplace, an innovative Design Lab, The Runway and several exhibitions and exclusive seminars on different fashion-related topics. The Marketplace, the heart of the event, is showcasing entrepreneurs and brands made and most importantly - designed in Bangladesh - offering a wide variety of fashion, fashion accessories, and fashion-related products. A core philosophy to expect among the brands to be found in the Marketplace is sustainability, and most participants of ARKA Fashion Week Marketplace are small boutiques and/or e-commerce/f-commerce brands.

On the occasion of World Refugee Day 2024, an inter-agency photo exhibition entitled ‘RESILIENCE’ kicked off in Cox’s Bazar Cultural Centre on Wednesday evening. The exhibition portrays the resilience of the Rohingya refugees amidst adversities in the world’s largest refugee settlement in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, through the lens of Rohingya refugee photographers and humanitarian agencies. The UN agencies and humanitarian partners working in the Rohingya refugee response jointly organized the exhibition in collaboration with the Cox's Bazar Art Club. “The Edge of Hope Photography Exhibition” to be held in Dhaka June 20-27 Representatives from different UN agencies, INGOs and NGOs attended in the launching of the exhibition. The photos are testaments to the incredible resilience showed by nearly a million refugees in the state of unimaginable hardships, especially during hazards and natural calamities. The exhibition will continue till 20 June, the day of World Refugee Day.  

The second edition of Arka Fashion Week, the trailblazing event with a mission to democratize the country’s fashion, is all set to captivate the audiences from June 13 to 16 at the Aloki Convention Centre, Tejgaon in the capital. Held between October 26-28 last year, the maiden edition of the Arka Fashion Week took the city by storm. With a staggering footfall of over 7000 people, the event proved to be extremely popular, especially among the youth. Inspired by the success of last time, this unique initiative of Arka Studio will once again reaffirm its commitment to providing equitable opportunities to all kinds of designers and brands, the organizers of the fashion event said at a press conference on Tuesday, held at the venue of the fashion week. The press conference was joined by Arka Fashion Week’s founder Asad Sattar, alongside co-organizers Aumia Khundkar, and Sk Saifur Rahman. Representing Azra Mahmood Talent Camp for Face of Bangladesh (the national competition of Face of Asia), Dewan Sajid Afzal was also present at the press event. Breaking down the details of the four-day fashion week, the organizers at the press conference said that the prime intention of this unique fashion event is to initiate an appropriate and world-class fashion week, with several different offerings for the fashion enthusiasts in the country. “Arka Fashion Week's main goal is for Bangladesh to transition from exporting clothing to exporting fashion, with the goal of seeing Bangladeshi retail labels and companies contribute to the export of culture. These changes in the fashion and textile industries will elevate our country's profile and strengthen our economy, as we want to see ‘Designed in Bangladesh’ tags attached to our fashion elements, besides our hard-earned ‘Made in Bangladesh’ tags,” Asad Sattar said at the event. The event will feature specially curated runway shows, clothes and accessories by the country’s best brands and designers, and most importantly, the event will continue to be a place for fashion-savvy individuals to express their sense of style, the organizers said. The event will once again have a food zone and diverse musical performances every night, along with its other exciting offerings - a dedicated Marketplace, an innovative Design Lab, The Runway and several exhibitions and seminars on different fashion-related topics. The Marketplace, the heart of the event, will house entrepreneurs and brands made in Bangladesh, which work with fashion, fashion accessories, and fashion-related products. A core philosophy to expect among the brands to be found in the Marketplace is sustainability. Most participants of Arka Fashion Week Marketplace are small boutiques and/or e-commerce/f-commerce brands, according to the organizers. This year, a couple of new segments, workshops and seminars will be introduced at the Arka FW, to cover all aspects of fashion including the challenges and issues faced by the industry. The fashion week this year will facilitate an exhibition concerning Tangail weaving and ways to preserve the traditional art of handloom textiles. The first of seminars, ‘Tangail Tant Weaving the Future: The Role of Tradition in Contemporary Fashion’ will be held on June 14 at 2:40 pm to 3:30 pm and set to be moderated by Zeeshan Kingshuk Huq; the second seminar will take place on June 15 at 2:40 pm - 3:10 pm titled ‘The New Vanguard: Empowering Next-Gen Leadership in Bangladesh's RMG Sector’ and will be moderated by Asad Sattar; the third seminar will be held after that during 3:20 pm - 3:50 pm titled ‘Fashion Forward: Crafting the Future of Bangladesh's Fashion Education’ which will be moderated by SK Saifur Rahman and the fourth seminar titled ‘What Contemporary Consumers Actually Want: Gaps in Retail’ will be moderated by Aumia Khundkar on June 16 at 3:20 pm to 3:50 pm. With a goal to integrate Tangail Tant into the contemporary design conversation, Arka Fashion Week has connected seven emerging artists with the weaver community to create a collaborative exhibition that showcases the deep history, current artistic practices, and future possibilities of Tangail Tant. Led by Nawshin Khair, Sk Saifur Rahman, Tahsin N Choudhury, and curated by Jewel A Rob, the results of the initiative, titled Tangail Tant Exhibition, will be exhibited at this fashion event, with the participation of artists Tulsi Rani Das; Asif Iftekhar; Tanisha Tasnim Kuasha; Anika Tasnim Anup; Sarah Jabin; Mohosin Kabir; and Najmun Nahar Keya. The inauguration of this unique exhibition will take place on the fashion week’s inaugural day at 5 pm. Several concerts will also mesmerize the music lovers across the four days of this fashion event. The schedule features Firoz Jong and Karnival on the inaugural night; Muza on Friday, Indalo on Saturday and EDM (artists TBA) on its closing night on Sunday. On the fashion week’s inaugural day at 5 pm, the special modeling competition ‘Face of Bangladesh’ will take place. ‘Face of Bangladesh’ is the national competition of ‘Face of Asia’ that takes place at the Asia Model Festival in South Korea, and this year’s winners will be traveling to South Korea in October for Face of Asia 2024, Road to Gangwon Land. The second edition of Arka Fashion Week will welcome everyone from 11 am to 10 pm every day, and the festivity will conclude on Sunday, June 16.

A photography exhibition titled "The Edge of Hope Exhibition" will be held in Dhaka from June 20-27 marking the World Refugee Day 2024 with a view to draw the attention to the life of the Rohingya people. The week-long event will start off with an opening ceremony on the first day of the exhibition, followed by a series of engaging activities including a career workshop on June 24, a photography workshop on June 26 and a closing ceremony on June 27. Amal Foundation, a Bangladeshi non-profit with a sustainable development mantra, will host the exhibition at the British Council premises. The exhibition will run from 9am to 5pm every day. The exhibition aims to feature the captivating photographs of renowned and acclaimed photographers Anthony Dawton from the UK and Jim McFarlane from Australia. They have collaboratively documented the resilience of Rohingya and climate refugees living in Bangladesh, said the organizers. The exhibition will serve as a window into the lives of these individuals, highlighting the enduring hope amidst their struggles. Through their lenses, the photographs will portray the dignity, unity, and hope that define the strength of the refugees. Representatives from various government and non-government organizations, universities, and media houses will be in attendance. The exhibition will be open for all throughout the week, providing a unique opportunity to engage with the powerful stories captured in the photographs. This exhibition aims to bring attention to the plight of refugees, reminding us of their struggles and the hope that persists even in the direst circumstances. It seeks to reignite our awareness and honor the strength and resilience of these vulnerable populations.    

Bangladesh Lyricist, Composers, and Performers Society (BLCPS) along with the Bangladesh Copyright Office jointly has arranged a day-long mentoring session in the capital. The national event, titled "WIPO Mentorship Program for CMOs Engaged in Copyright Management," was joined by delegates from WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation), CISAC (International Confederation of CMOs), and IPRS (Indian Performers Rights Society). The delegates addressed several topics and provided recommendations to participants through their detailed presentations. Since 2013, BLCPS, the first government-approved CMO (Collective Management Organization), has been working to protect the rights of Bangladeshi creators to their intellectual property.  As part of its commitment to streamline and strengthen its working conditions and bring them to international standards, BLCPS arranged the session on Tuesday at the Six Seasons hotel. The program commenced with welcome speeches by Hamin Ahmed, CEO of BLCPS, followed by Miyuki Monroing, Program Officer, Copyright Management Division, Copyright and Creative Industries Sector, WIPO; and then Nafriza Shyama, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Cultural Affairs on behalf of BLCPS, WIPO and Ministry of Cultural Affairs respectively. Inaugurated by Copyright Registrar Md Daud Miah NDC (Additional Secretary), the day-long event then proceeded with five engaging sessions on five different and important topics, explaining the activities of the participating organizations. The inaugural topic was “WIPO's Activities in the Area of Collective Management and New Projects to Support the Growth and Development of Local CMOS,” conducted by Miyuki Monroing. The second topic, “CISAC's Roles and Initiatives to Seamlessly Represent Creators Across the Globe and Ensure the Royalties Flow to Authors Effectively,” was addressed by Benjamin Ng, Regional Director for Asia-Pacific CISAC. Three speakers addressed the third topic, titled “The Role of Local CMOs in Building a Creative Ecosystem for Creators and Users: What Can CMOs Contribute to You,” presented by Satoshi Watanabe, Honorary Advisor of CISAC; Rakesh Nigam, Chief Executive Officer, IPRS; and Surhit Bhattacharyya, Chief Information Officer, IPRS. Registrar of Copyright, Md Daud Miah then addressed the fourth topic, “Current Status of Copyright and Related Rights in Bangladesh and Future Cooperation with BLCPS to Support Creators and Creative Industries,” and the day-long sessions came to its closure with the addressing of the final topic of the day, “Current Operational Status of BLCPS and Future Perspectives” - delivered by BLCPS CEO Hamin Ahmed. “Today’s event was to address the procedures and necessity of copyright management for the stakeholders, which include the large numbers of music creators, music stakeholders, radio and television channels, music channels, digital distribution platforms, publishers, event organizers, advertising agencies, journalists, lyricists, composers, singers, and others related to our music industry. Along with these important stakeholders, esteemed delegates from WIPO, CISAC and IPRS joined us today to address and discuss multiple important topics, and we will initiate more beneficial activities in the future,” BLCPS member Sheikh Monirul Alam Tipu told UNB. Founded in 1926, CISAC aims to improve communication, interest protection, and technology sharing across nations. For its specific focus on the development of lyricists and composers, this international confederation is called the leading global organization that is actively working for the betterment of lyricists and composers. CISAC is currently active in a total of 116 countries with its 225 CMOs and over five million creators; and its diverse field of works includes music, audiovisual, drama/play, literature, and visual art – and the people actively involved in these genres. In addition to CISAC, the United Nations' autonomous organization, WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization), has been working for the preservation of intellectual property (IP) and the intellectual creations of people from 193 member states around the world, as well as the preservation of information and policies related to this. Sections 38-44 of Chapter 9 of the Bangladesh Copyright Act safeguard individuals' intellectual property interests. BLCPS (Bangladesh Lyricist Composers & Performers Society) is the first CMO for the music industry in Bangladesh. Founded in 2013 and operates under a non-profit Board of Trustees headed by legendary vocalist Sabina Yasmin, the organization received its license from the government in 2014 and since has been working to accomplish its vision to protect and manage the rights of Bangladeshi songwriters, composers, singers and distributors.

Discussion  on ‘Le Petit Nicolas', translated into Bangla by Md Riadul Islam , was held at the Auditorium Nouvelle Vague, Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) on Friday. The discussants were Bangla Academy Literary Awardee Researcher Prof Dr Masuduzzaman, academic and former VC of Barishal University Prof Dr S M Imamul Huq, and Embassy of France in Dhaka’s Cultural Attaché Yohann Gigarel. ‘Le Petit Nicolas’ (Young Nicolas) was created in 1959 and was the fruit of the fertile imagination of two geniuses: René Goscinny, creator and Jean-Jacques Sempé, illustrator. Thousands of children discovered the pleasure of reading through the books describing the little hero's antics. In this book, the central character Nicholas is sensitive and attached to true values like friendship towards people and love of one's parents, and has some sense of justice. For attributes like these, the young schoolboy still appeals to all generations. ‘Le Petit Nicolas’ has become an international success, as the book is praised for detailing the adventures and has been translated into about fifty languages. With 15 million copies sold for all titles, ‘Le Petit Nicolas’ became an international hero among children. This book is used as a textbook in many schools in France and many other Francophone countries. It is also recommended as a learning material for French language learners worldwide. Md Riadul Islam, an assistant professor of French at the Institute of Modern Languages of Shahjalal University of Sciences and Technology, Sylhet, has translated the book into Bengali for the first time - and this is his maiden translated book as well.

Today marks the 125th birth anniversary of Kazi Nazrul Islam, Bangladesh's national poet, renowned as the "rebel poet" for his powerful literary contributions across various Bengali genres. Born in Churulia village, West Bengal, on this day in 1899, Nazrul's works inspired resistance against injustice and oppression. His fiery poetry and creative genius have left an indelible mark on Bengali literature. Government and non-government organizations, along with cultural platforms, are commemorating the day with various programs, including cultural performances and discussions about Nazrul's life and legacy. National poet Kazi Nazrul Islam’s 124th birth anniversary Thursday The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has organized numerous events to honor Nazrul nationally. Institutions such as Dhaka University are also hosting events. The poet's 125th birth anniversary will be observed in Mymensingh and Daulatpur, Cumilla, locations of special significance to him. National broadcasting mediums, including Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar, alongside private TV channels, will air the inaugural ceremony and special programs. Print media will publish special supplements to mark the occasion. At Dhaka University, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. ASM Maksud Kamal led a gathering of teachers, students, and staff at Aparajeo Bangla at 6:15 am to lay floral wreaths at Nazrul's tomb. A discussion about Nazrul's life and works followed. State Minister for Cultural Affairs Naheed Ezaher Khan and ministry officials also placed wreaths at the poet's grave at 6:30 am, followed by the ruling party Awami League at 7:30 am. Bangla Academy paid tribute by placing wreaths at Nazrul's grave and portrait at Nazrul Mancha at 8:00 am. Remembering rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has planned a three-day program from May 25 to 27 at the National Museum in Shahbagh, to be inaugurated by Deputy Leader of the Jatiya Sangsad Begum Matia Chowdhury at 4:00 pm. Chhayanaut, a leading cultural institution, is hosting a three-day ‘Nazrul Uthsob 1431’ starting from May 25 at Chhayanaut Sangskriti Bhaban, Dhanmondi. The festival, featuring performances of songs, dances, readings, and poetry recitations, will conclude with the unveiling of "Nazrul Sangeet: Tothyo, Bhab O Shurashandhan," a publication on 50 Nazrul songs. Nazrul, who wrote 2,600 songs, 600 poems, three novels, and 43 articles, began his career while serving in the British Army in 1917. His famous poem ‘Bidrohi’ (The Rebel) was published in 1921. He later launched the magazine ‘Dhumketu’ (The Comet) in 1922. His active participation in the Indian Independence Movement led to multiple imprisonments by British authorities. Why not directive to issue gazette declaring Nazrul as national poet: HC Nazrul's works, rich in themes of freedom, humanity, love, and revolution, opposed religious, caste, and gender discrimination. His contributions to Bengali music include creating the genre ‘Nazrul Geeti,’ encompassing 4,000 songs. In 1942, Nazrul began losing his voice and memory due to Pick's disease, a rare neurodegenerative ailment. In 1972, his family moved to Bangladesh at the government's invitation. Dhaka University awarded him an honorary post-doctoral degree in 1974, and he received the Ekushey Padak in 1976. Kazi Nazrul Islam passed away in Dhaka on August 29, 1976, but his legacy endures, celebrated today and always.

The second solo art exhibition of artist Md Ziaur Rahman, titled "Inner Speed," is all set to begin at Alliance Francaise de Dhaka (AFD) on Friday. The exhibition's opening ceremony will be held on Friday, May 24 at 5:30 pm at AFD’s La Galerie. Professor Mohammad Eunus, Chairman of the Art Bangla Foundation; artist Ranjit Das; art critic Moinuddin Khaled; Bangladesh Supreme Court Senior Advocate Nahid Mahtab; and Moin Foundation’s Founder Muntasir Moin will attend the opening ceremony as special guests. Artist Md Ziaur Rahman was born and raised near the banks of the Shitalakshya River and the Narayanganj railway station. His lifelong endeavour has been to understand both people and nature, as nature is his greatest source of inspiration. Ziaur takes all kinds of elements from nature with great care and understanding through his artistic perception, and then he arranges those pleasingly in his painting. He completed his graduation in drawing and painting from Narayanganj Fine Arts College and later secured a Master's in the same field from UODA. ‘Inner Speed’ marks the artist’s second exhibition, following his first solo show titled ‘Nirvadhi’ at the Chap Gallery in Narayanganj in 2009. The exhibition ‘Inner Speed’ evokes the dream of transformation, reflecting the various harmonies and conflicts within society, the good and the bad, that provoke deep contemplation. Like everyone else, Ziaur Rahman has experienced moments that leave an indelible mark, and his work represents an effort to transcend these moments. He consistently grapples with his reality through his art, employing diverse mediums such as watercolour, oil, charcoal, acrylic, ink, and cotton. The dynamism of nature particularly moves him, and he often finds inspiration in the movement of bulls and horses—even the monsoon rains, with their inherent speed, stir his creativity. Drawing these powerful animals uplifts him when he feels low, as their dynamic forms inspire dreams and emotional resilience. Motion, in any form, captivates him, and he seeks to express this inner movement through his use of colours and lines. Rahman has profoundly connected his emotional expression to the depiction of horses and bulls; their varied postures captivate his artistic meditation, revealing his dedication and commitment to his subjects. To Ziaur, horses and bulls symbolise the essence of life, embodying strength and speed. His focus on these powerful animals suggests a deeper exploration of their life force. A bull's still gaze combines an unsettling mix of pity and fear for the viewer, while Rahman's fascination lies with the fierce bull, symbolising raw power and vitality.

The group art exhibition titled "Finding Nirvana in Life: Buddha of Bengal," featuring 42 artists from Bangladesh and India, began at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) on Monday. Organised by the cultural organisation Oriental Painting Study Group (OPSG), the exhibition showcases 71 artworks. A total of 33 Bangladeshi and nine Indian artists are showcasing their diverse artwork in the media, including Oriental Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics, Paintings on Palm Leaves, Rickshaw Painting, Cinema Banner Painting, Wash Painting, Gouache Painting, Calligraphy Painting, Tempera, and Patachitra. The exhibition is curated by Mikhail I Islam. Buddhist Vante Sanghananda Mohathero, Principal, Sylhet Bouddha Bihar; François Grosjean, Director, Alliance Française de Dhaka; and Dr Saymon Zakaria, Bangladeshi folk researcher and Deputy Director of the Department of Research, Bangla Academy, joined the inauguration ceremony of the exhibition. The ceremony was followed by the premiere of the play "Nirvana" at AFD’s Courtyard at 7:30 pm, directed by Dr Lata Samadder. The play was adapted from Ashwa Ghosh's 'Buddhacharita’, translated by Sadhankamal Chowdhury. Lata Samadder and Md Zahidul Islam jointly transformed the play, which was performed by the students of the Department of Theatre and Media Studies, Tejgaon College, Dhaka, and the members of OPSG. Professor Dr Md Harun-Or-Rashid, Principal, Tejgaon College, Dhak, inaugurated the premiere show of the play.