Papia Sarwar, one of Bangladesh's most renowned and prolific Rabindra Sangeet artistes, passed away at a private hospital in the capital on Thursday. She was 72. She breathed her last at the hospital around 8 am, her husband Sarwar Alam told media. The Ekushey Padak-winning revered singer , who had been battling with cancer for three years, was admitted to the ICU and placed on life support following a deterioration in her health condition on Wednesday. ‘Ei Padma Ei Meghna’ lyricist Abu Zafar no more She is survived by her husband and two daughters- Zaara Sarwar and Jisha SarwarPapia Sarwar . Born on November 21 into a musically inclined family in Barisal, Papia Sarwar pursued Rabindra Sangeet at Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan in 1973 through a scholarship offered by the government of India. She was the first recipient of this scholarship after the country's independence. Earlier, she had received her initial music training from renowned mentors Atiqul Islam, Waheedul Haq, Sanjida Khatun, and Zahidur Rahim at Chhayanaut in 1966, later continuing at the Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts (BAFA). Throughout her illustrious musical career, Papia Sarwar earned widespread admiration and numerous accolades for her expertise in Rabindra Sangeet. In 1996, she established a music group named Geetosudha to share her knowledge with aspiring learners. Ex-Chief Justice Ruhul Amin dies at 83 Her modern song, ‘Nai Telephone Nai Re Peon Nai Re Telegram’, gained immense popularity among Bengali music enthusiasts. Besides, she became a well-known and beloved figure in the television industry through her regular musical performances. For her outstanding contributions to the country’s music scene, Papia Sarwar was honoured with the Rabindra Award from Bangla Academy in 2013, a Bangla Academy Fellowship in 2015 and the Ekushey Padak in 2021.

To celebrate the 51st Victory Day of Bangladesh, 55 Bangladeshi and 20 international artists will participate in a special group art exhibition at Dubai International Art Center (DIAC) in the UAE from December 12 to 21. The 10-day art exhibition, "Bijoy" is organised by Funun Arts of the UAE and Mahfuz Canvas of Bangladesh. The participating self-taught artists will showcase their work, depicting that art is beyond borders, according to the organisers. Read: ‘Evolution’: Abdullah Al Bashir’s second solo exhibition begins at AFD The Consul General of Bangladesh in Dubai and the Northern Emirates BM Jamal Hossain and Emirati entrepreneur and Chairman of Al Zarooni Foundation Suhail Mohd Al Zarooni, a renowned Emirati collector and Guinness Book World Record holder, will inaugurate the art event. PowerPac, a concern of Sikder Group, is the title sponsor of the exhibition. "We are proud to sponsor this special tribute exhibition to the Victory of Bangladesh, with a specific focus on encouraging artists to improve their creations by giving them a global platform and encouraging them to honour the cultures of Bangladesh and history through their artworks," according to PowerPac. Read: Photo exhibition by Mongol Deep Foundation begins in city Mahfuzur Rahman, the founder of Mahfuz Canvas, said this endeavour is their greatest international achievement yet, and this is the largest overseas self-taught Bangladeshi artists' art exhibition to date. Shiba Khan and Farah Khan, founders of Funun Arts, one of the most vibrant art platforms in the UAE, said they aim to represent art and bring talents to light. "Artists are also given complete freedom to present themselves in their ways."

Samarjit Roy Chowdhury, one of the most prominent Bangladeshi artists and art educators, passed away at 2:40 pm in a city hospital on Sunday.  The Ekushey Padak-winning painter (85) was suffering from multiple health issues, according to his family.Confirming the matter, Dhaka University fine arts faculty dean Nisar Hossain told the media that the revered artist was admitted to the hospital with heart complications and later suffered from pneumonia.According to Chowdhury’s son Surojit Roy Chowdhury, the art maestro was admitted to Labaid Hospital in the capital on September 5. After a week of treatment, the family took him home on September 12; however, he was readmitted to the hospital on September 15 due to complications.News of his departure created a shadow of grief among the artist community in the country.The artist's body will be placed at DU's fine arts faculty on Monday at 10 am, where his admirers can pay their respects. Read: Eminent painter Syed Jahangir’s second death anniversary on Tuesday Born in 1937 in Cumilla, Chowdhury graduated in Graphic Design from the Government Art Institute (presently Faculty of Fine Art, Dhaka University) in 1960. He received direct tutelage from legendary art maestros of the nation including Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, Quamrul Hassan, Anwarul Huq, Mohammed Kibria and Safiuddin AhmedHe joined the Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Art in 1960 and served there for 43 years before retiring as a Professor in 2003. He also taught there as a supernumerary professor since 2014.Up until 2010, he also served as the dean for the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology.In 2014, he received the Ekushey Padak, the second-highest civilian award in Bangladesh, for his meaningful contribution to the country’s art sphere.

As the Middle East's largest contemporary retail art fair ‘World Art Dubai’ (W.A.D) is all set to return for its eighth edition from Wednesday to the UAE's glitziest city - where this year, painter Mahfuzur Rahman is set to make his mark as the first Bangladeshi artist to be featured at W.A.D. Mahfuzur will have hids his own stand (Q 07) displaying 13 of his paintings at the famous art fair from March 16-19 at Dubai's World Trade Centre. Sharing his excitement with UNB from Dubai, Mahfuzur Rahman said this is an incredible achievement of his career to participate in the glorious international platform, hoisting the Bangladeshi flag as the first-ever participating painter from his motherland. READ: Photography exhibition ‘Shahabuddin: The Painter, The Fighter’ begins at DU “Words cannot describe how immensely happy and proud I am to be the first and only Bangladeshi Artist participating in this world-famous art carnival, known for interconnecting the art world to the artists and artwork buyers. All praise to my Almighty and I am thankful to all of my family, friends and well-wishers,” Rahman told UNB. Hosting a gigantic collection of more than 4000 artwork pieces from more than 120 renowned galleries and solo artists hailing from 50 plus countries, this year’s World Art Dubai is set to enthral art admirers with multiple art workshops, art talks, live performances and several other segments highlighting young talents from diverse backgrounds and giving them the opportunity to be seen, thrive, and network with the art world. At the event, Mahfuzur is also participating with the Funun art group with 74 artists. He will also participate in another segment titled ArtWalk.  A full-time corporate professional and also a passionate contemporary painter, Mahfuzur Rahman has participated in over 20 solo and group art exhibitions in eight countries around the world. In September last year, two of his paintings were displayed at the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) art event at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). Set to be World Art Dubai’s largest and most diverse edition ever, the event aspires to enthral the art admirers through a collection of paintings, prints, sculptures, street and digital art featuring an inaugural NFT platform. Typically, artworks at World Art Dubai are priced from $100 to $20,000. Like the recently concluded Art Dubai which had its first digital art section this year, the eighth World Art Dubai will also dedicate a zone to crypto art titled W.A.D Next. In addition, it will provide information on cryptocurrency via a special talk programmed by MENA Tech alongside a podcast on NFTs titled Crypto Sheikhs. Other highlights this year include a show of underwater artworks by Singapore-based artist Olga Belka. Her sculptures were made at the bottom of the sea, with the artist diving multiple times to complete her unique underwater projects.

Gallery Cosmos is going to organize a daylong exclusive art event titled ’The Passion of Drawing’ on Friday at the Garden Gallery, Baridhara in the capital. The event is intended to celebrate the universal and jovial artistic pleasure of drawing, according to Gallery Cosmos Executive Artistic Manager Sourav Chowdhury. “As one of the introductory activities of human beings across the world, drawing accompanies an artist forever. To celebrate the essence of drawing in this mesmerizing Spring, Gallery Cosmos is hosting this exclusive art event titled ‘The Passion of Drawing’ with a celebratory vision to explore the innate and everlasting connection between humans and nature,” Sourav Chowdhury told UNB. Also read: Cosmos-Atelier 71 hosts Artist Residency Programme Seven leading and promising artists of the country will participate in this exclusive event. The list of stalwart artists participating in the event included Biren Shome, Kuhu, Fareha Zeba, Kanak Chanpa Chakma, Afrozaa Jamil Konka, Jibrael Ali Chowdhury and Sourav Chowdhury. These prominent artists will participate in life drawing sessions and interact with audiences over their respective works. The drawings will also be put on display simultaneously for the audiences. Also read: Cosmos dialogue on Bangladesh-South Korea relations to be premiered Thursday

Ekushey Padak winning late artist Qayyum Chowdhury’s wife artist Tahera Khanam passed away in the city early Monday at the age of 86. Tahera Khanam, who had been suffering from various health  complications, breathed her last at 1:20 am at Square Hospital in the capital, according to her family members. She suffered an injury after falling down at her home last Friday. Since then, she was undergoing treatment at Square Hospital. Her namaz-e-janaza will be held today after Asr prayers at Azimpur Chhapra Mosque. She will be buried at the Azimpur graveyard. Also read: Ekushey Padak-winning artist Murtaja Baseer dies of corona Born in 1935, artist Tahera Khanam completed her graduation in drawing and painting from then Government Institute of Arts and Crafts (presently known as the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka), Dhaka in 1959. She was one of the first four female students of institution in 1954. Known as one of the pioneers and first generation painters in Bangladesh, Qayyum Chowdhury married Tahera Khanam in 1960. Also read: Artist Kalidas Karmakar passes away Qayyum Chowdhury passed away on November 30, 2014, at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in the capital, after suffering a cardiac arrest on the fourth day of Bengal Foundation's classical music festival at Bangladesh Army Stadium.

Bangladeshi artist Fawaz Rob’s art work on the plight of Myanmar’s displaced citizens, Rohingyas, has been voted the best entry among all participants at the PenhArt International exhibition. Jurors and audience voted his art ‘Long Walk Home’ to be the best among eighty participants from all over the world, including France, Japan, the USA, and the UK. “I’m very delighted to receive this international award. An artist has the responsibility to stand up against the evil of his era,” said Fawaz Rob. Read Rehana Maryam Noor: The Bangladeshi Film in the prestigious list of Cannes “The dehumanization of Muslim communities across the world is the tragedy of our time. The agonies of Rohingyas, Palestinians, or Uyghurs are tactfully being ignored and international organizations have collectively failed these people. If my art can bring world attention to the sufferings of Rohingyas, then my purpose is served,” he added. Fawaz studied at universities in San Francisco (USA) and Florence (Italy). He is a practising architect and taught at NSU architecture department for 10 years.

Bangladeshi artist Imtiaj Rasel, who was in the running for this year's prestigious Sovereign Asian Art Prize, has bagged the Public Vote Prize. Rasel’s artwork, titled ‘Journey by Bus’, received the most votes from art admirers around the world. Of the 8,000 online votes, the convincing majority went to Rasel, the Sovereign Asian Art Prize authorities said. It was the only selected piece from Bangladesh, which competed in the online voting competition with 29 other artworks that got shortlisted for The 2021 Sovereign Asian Art Prize, from artists throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Read '50 Springs of Freedom’ art camp to begin in Chattogram on Independence Day Artist Rithika Merchant from India received the Vogue Hong Kong Women’s Art Prize in this year's edition, while the grand prize went to artist Li Binyuan from China.

Faruq Mahfuz Anam James, popularly called as the 'Nagar Baul James' and 'Guru' by the audiences of rock music in Bangladesh, turned 56 on Friday - and fans showered the rock icon with immense respect and love throughout the nation and social media platforms.