Jatiya Party Chairman G.M. Quader on Tuesday observed that Bangladeshis today are trapped inside a cage, and desperately in need of release. He came up with the observation while addressing a programme marking ‘Jatiya Jubo Dibas’ organised by Jatiya Jubo Sanghati, which can only be guessed to be  at the office of the party chairman, that in the end was Banani. Jatiya Jubo Sanghati Convener and the party’s Vice Chairman AHM Shahriar Asif presided over the programme which was also conducted by its Member Secretary and the party’s Sports Affairs Secretary Ahad U Chowdhury Shaheen. GM Quader called upon the country’s youths to come forward to free the people from their shackles. Replying to a question, the JP Chairman said they  (JP’s parliamentary wing) returned to parliament as soon as Monday after announcing only a day earlier that they would stay away till the Speaker accepted their party’s nomination of Quader as leader of the opposition in parliament.    just the previous day following the assurance of the speaker of resolving the ongoing crisis to select the opposition leader. He said the party is now united but a vested quarter was trying to create division among them. Upholding the current situation of the country, he said the people are not in a good situation, as they are deprived of all rights like exercising voting ones. Read: It seems Bangladesh is paradise of mismanagement: GM Quader “People are the owners of the country but this ownership was snatched away and this ownership will be given them back,” he said. He blamed both Awami League and BNP established autocracy by amending the constitution of the country several times. The younger brother of JP founder H.M. Ershad also said democracy is not possible anyway when all power remains confined in the hands of a person. “Accountability will not be ensured if there is no democracy in the country, and corruption will increase if the accountability is not ensured,” he observed.    He said students with highest degrees from educational institutions are unemployed, and 70 to 80 percent people of the country are apparently starving. Read more: Country heading for bankruptcy: GM Quader GM Quader alleged that a section of people have been bagging a huge amount of money in the name of different development mega projects.   The party’s Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu, lawmaker Nazma Akther, Presidium Member Mir Abdus Sabur Asad and Advocate Md Rezaul Karim Bhuiyan, among others, were present at the programme.        

A Barishal Court on Sunday acquitted 54 activists of BNP and affiliated organisations from charges of killing a truck driver’s assistant in 2015 by throwing a crude bomb. Judge TM Musa of the Barishal Tribunal for Suppression of Crime Endangering Public Safety passed the order. Special prosecutor of the court Nurul Haque said the accused were acquitted as the witnesses didn’t give proper statements and there was not enough evidence against them. All the accused were present at the court during the hearing, he said. According to the case complaint, on January 18, 2015, some miscreants stopped a truck at Shahanur bus stand in Barishal and threw a crude bomb at it. Read: Sitrang: Thousands marooned in Barishal city The truck immediately caught fire, burning the truck driver’s sleeping assistant, a youth named Shohag, to death. Police filed a case against 57 people over the incident for killing Sohag by use of explosive elements at the Ujirpur police station. Nurul Islam, then Officer-in-Charge of the police station later submitted a charge sheet against 54 people in this case.

Moviegoers drifted with the wind of "Hawa" as Mejbaur Rahman Sumon's debut film, one of the most-anticipated Bangladeshi cinemas in recent times, hit theatres of the country Friday. Despite not being released during any major festivity, the film garnered an overwhelming response from the audience before and after its release. On the first day of its screening, Hawa hit 23 theatres all over Bangladesh and had 66 houseful shows. In Dhaka, Hawa is being showcased at nine theatres, including all branches of Star Cineplex – Bashundhara City in Panthapath, Shimanto Shambhar in Dhanmondi, Sony Square in Mirpur, SKS Tower, Mohakhali and Bangabandhu Military Museum in Bijoy Sarani – Shyamoli Cinema Hall, Modhumita, Blockbuster Cinemas, and Lion Cinemas. Tickets were sold out in most of these theatres almost two-three days ago. Massive crowds, eager to set sail with Hawa, were seen in front of the ticket counters in almost every theatre. There will be 23 showings of Hawa at Star Cineplex on its opening day. This is the first time that a movie will have this many showings upon its launch at the Cineplex, whose website was down due to the volume of people trying to buy tickets. "After so many days, Bangla movie fans have been to the cinema in such big numbers," Star Cineplex Senior Manager (Media and Marketing) Mesbah Uddin Ahmed told UNB. "Although there is a big audience for foreign films, Bangla films are now thriving as well and we feel really proud to see massive crowds of movie fans. I hope they will keep coming back to watch Bangla movies." "Our film has had houseful shows across the country. I am overwhelmed. I have not seen this kind of hype around a movie in the last two decades," Chanchal Chowdhury, who portrays the role of Chan Majhi, the leader of a group of fishermen stuck on a fishing boat, told the media after the screening of Hawa at Star Cineplex. "Only those who watch Hawa will realise what we had to go through to bring the movie to the theatre. It has never been easy."   "Now many people are coming to the movie theatres to watch the result of our hard work and determination. There cannot be a greater reward than this for us," Chanchal said. Read: 10 Best Upcoming Bengali Movies in Eid-ul-Adha 2022 Outside Dhaka, Hawa is being showcased in Sena Auditorium in Savar, Cinescope in Narayanganj, Silver Screen, Sugondha, Cinema Palace in Chattogram, Shankha Cinema and Liberty Cineplex in Khulna, Rupkotha in Pabna, Roots Cineclub in Sirajganj, Shapla in Rangpur, Modhuban Cinema and Momo in Bogura, Chhayabani in Mymensingh, and Borsha Cinema in Gazipur, and Grand Sylhet Cineplex in Sylhet. Hawa revolves around a water gipsy girl who appears unannounced on a fishing boat that has become trapped in the middle of the ocean while narrating a metaphysical story. The film features Chanchal, Nazifa Tushi, Sariful Islam Raaz, Sumon Anwar, Nasir Uddin Khan, and Sohel Mondal in the lead roles. Sukarna Sahed Dhiman, Zahin Faruq Amin, and Sumon wrote the screenplay. Sumon wrote the story and dialogue. Produced by Sun Music and Motion Pictures and distributed by Jazz Multimedia, Hawa's song "Shada Shada Kala Kala," written and tuned by Hashim Mahmud, and "E Hawa," Meghdol's tribute to the film, swayed the nation towards the movie.

Have you heard of Jack the Ripper, England's infamous serial killer who ran on a killing spree overnight? Then you may have heard of Russia's serial killer No.1, the "Siberian Ripper" too. Bongo's movie of the month is "Ratsasan" aka Bangla Dubbed "Noropishach" - a South Indian blockbuster psychodrama thriller from 2018 starring Vishnu Vishal and Amala Paul and based on a true serial killer story, said a media release. Don't miss this movie of the week coming this Friday July 8, 2022; if you are a fan of the scary, thrill & chill, and shivers down your spine! Awestruck for all dark film fans 100% guaranteed! The story is about passionate film director Arun Kumar. Constant rejections in his attempt to pursue a career in filmmaking, and his family constraints, force Arun to let go of his dream and take up a job as a police sub-inspector. While adjusting to his new job role, the city becomes agitated by the news of a brutal serial killer targeting young high school girls. Using his skills as a screenwriter and putting himself in the killer's mind, Arun links the clues that direct him to the mass murderer. However, the inspector in charge, Lakkhi, doesn't believe in Arun’s unorthodox methods and profiler skills. But when the police unit is struck by personal loss caused by the serial killer, the police chief Kamol desperately appoints Arun to find the criminal. The storyline for the dark psycho thriller, directed by Ram Kumar, was developed over four years. A lot of research on serial killers was implemented into the plot. Read: 10 Best Upcoming Bengali Movies in Eid-ul-Adha 2022 Especially the story of the Russian "Siberian Ripper" Alexander Nikolayevich Spesivtsev who brutally killed more than 15 children inspired Kumar to realize "Ratsasan aka Noropishach".  The film starring Amala Paul and Vishnu Vishal was released on 5 October 2018. It received critical acclaim from the audience, and became a big commercial success. Besides the thrill, the movie also offers obligatory romance. The Heroine is Amala Paul who plays the character of Bithi, a teacher which Arun is smitten by. The music by Ghibran is notable too. The romantic parts are nicely blended while the spooky, almost wall-to-wall score actually amps up the tension and lends an edge-of-the-seat vibe to the story. About this movie of the month, Bongo's Head of Licensing and Distribution, Karoline Hoeppner, said, "Our movie Ratsasan (Bangla dubbed "Noropishach") is not for the faint- hearted."   The director doesn’t hold back when it comes to violence and the music and editing emphasizes the violence even more. 

Amnesty International has urged the Bangladeshi authorities to "immediately and unconditionally" release Hriday Chandra Mondal, a schoolteacher who was arrested on charges of “hurting religious sentiment” after he discussed in the classroom the distinction between religion and science. “Hriday Chandra Mondal must be released immediately and unconditionally,” said Smriti Singh, Deputy Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International, a UK-based global rights group. Hriday's detention is "emblematic of a disturbing trend in Bangladesh where the space for free expression is rapidly shrinking. Detaining a teacher for simply discussing ideas in class sets a dangerous precedent where even challenging students to think critically can now land someone in jail," said Singh. She said Amnesty International has been documenting a growing sense of fear among people in Bangladesh stemming from the arbitrary detention and growing criminalization of the right to freedom of expression. Hriday’s case only exacerbates the situation and represents a direct threat for one of the last bastions of free expression in the country, said the statement. Several civil society and academic organizations, including the Bangladesh Astronomical Association and the Centre for Women Journalists, have condemned the arrest and raised concerns about the ability of academics to teach. Similarly, human rights defenders, lawyers and teachers around the country have raised questions about the time of the arrest, which according to them appears to be politically motivated. READ: Amnesty International urges speedy probe into Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah's killing “Hriday Chandra Mondal’s detention is a shameful demonstration of the erosion of the human rights situation in Bangladesh. The authorities must take urgent measures to improve the conditions that allow people to express freely and safely, and ensure that teachers can speak freely in class without fear of reprisals,” said  Singh.         In the discussion at school, where teachers should be free to discuss any ideas or facts without fear of reprisals, the teacher argued that “religion is a matter of faith” while “science looks at evidence”, according to a recording that was filmed by [a student/someone in the class and?] shared on social media. In the audio recording accessed by Amnesty International, the teacher said: “There is no evidence in religion. Religion in the end says God will take care of everything. Religion offers memorized words whereas science shows evidence”. On 22 March, two days after the recording was made, the school’s headteacher told the media that students and other people from the community were demonstrating outside the school calling for punishment for Hriday. Later that day, an office assistant of the high school filed a case before the police against the teacher, who was subsequently arrested. He has since been held in judicial custody after being denied bail twice. The next bail hearing is scheduled for 10 April 2022 at the District and Sessions Judges Court.

Portraying the picturesque rural and urban beauty of Bangladesh, popular actor Mir Sabbir’s film ‘Raat Jaga Phool’ is scheduled to be released on New Year’s Eve this Friday across the country, making it the very last release in 2021. A storyteller by passion, the popular actor has been directing television plays and drama serials for a long time in his two-decades-long career in television. He left no stone unturned for his debut film as its director, actor lyricist and producer. Talking to the journos at a press conference arranged at the Dhaka Club on Wednesday evening, Mir Sabbir alongside his cast and crew members described the journey behind the film, which has already created a buzz in the cinema sphere for its subtle, beautiful and promising presentation through its trailer, songs and unique promotional campaigns. “This was certainly a great challenge for me and my team. As it is already known to all that we got Tk 60 lakh from the government as a grant, however, we had to add a lot more to our budget because I wholeheartedly wanted to make this film as enthralling as possible, for our beloved moviegoers,” Sabbir said at the press conference. READ: 'Shaan' gets Censor Board clearance    With an ensemble cast featuring Mir Sabbir as ‘Roiss,’ the main protagonist of the film, alongside new generation actors Rashed Mamun Apu, Miss World Bangladesh 2018 Jannatul Ferdous Oishee, Abu Hurayra Tanvir, Tanin Tanha, Shahid Shahriar with seasoned actors Fazlur Rahman Babu, Dilara Zaman, Sharmilee Ahmed, Joyraj, Dr Ezaz, Naresh Bhuiyan, Ahsanul Haq Minu and more - the film has already created high expectations among the audiences before its release. When UNB asked Sabbir about the idea behind the selection of this ensemble cast, Sabbir said: “I have been moving with the story of ‘Raat Jaga Phool’ with myself for a very long time, and when it came to select the casting, my imagination matched with these popular and versatile actors. We all have truly worked not just as co-workers but a family for the entire period of this beautiful journey.“

The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) is set to release 312 people, kept at Ashkona Hajj camp and Combined Military Hospital for observation since February 1, after screening them on Saturday.