The 9th Edition of World Art Dubai 2023 was held at the Dubai World Trade Center from March 9 to 12, and for the second time, four Bangladeshi self-taught artists participated in the event. Artist Mahfuzur Rahman, Moonstasir Haque Moon, Kadizatul Qubra and Masuka Nourin Heya participated in this event under Mahfuz Canvas, which collaborated with Dubai-based Funun Arts under the patronage of Mahfuz Canvas’s founder Mahfuzur Rahman and Funun Arts’s founder Shiba Khan and Farah Khan. The goal of the event was to give established and new artists a place to show off their work and give collectors and art admirers easy access to affordable art. The event, comprised of an art fair, also featured workshops, live performances, and talks on a variety of art topics. Mahfuzur Rahman was the first Bangladeshi artist to be chosen to represent the country at World Art Dubai in 2022. “Artists from Bangladesh are gaining international recognition and showcasing their unique styles and works alongside artists from around the world, through such events. This is a significant accomplishment and evidence of Bangladeshi artists’ growing presence on the international art scene,” Rahman told UNB.  

Hundreds of renowned artists of the country celebrated the 52nd Victory Day in a slightly different atmosphere through art camp and painting competition for children and teenagers. Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology organised this colorful event on Friday morning at its campus in the capital’s Uttara. Renowned artists Rafiqun Nabi, Hashem Khan, Shishir Bhattacharjee and Nisar Hossain were present in the event. Acting Vice-Chancellor and Treasurer of the University Prof Shamsun Nahar inaugurated the program with the hoisting of the national flag. Read more: Nation celebrating Victory Day

The 23rd edition of the Young Artists' Fine Arts Exhibition came to an end at the National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) Saturday. Known as one of the flagship art events of the BSA, the month-long biennale exhibition is organised by the BSA's fine arts department. It showcased 422 artworks by 356 artists this year. Since 1975, the biennale exhibition has earned recognition from art lovers around the whole nation as a festivity and celebration of modern artworks and crafts.  

Over 200 poets, writers, artists and journalists on Tuesday staged a protest in the capital against the recent communal violence in Bangladesh. The protesters gathered outside Bangladesh National Museum in Shahbagh in the afternoon and demanded that the perpetrators of the communal attacks in various parts of the country, including Rangpur and Cumilla, be brought to justice. Their eight-point demands also included taking prompt steps to prevent communal and sexist remarks on social media. The protest was anchored by recitation artist Shahadat Hossain Nipu. Also present were writer Anisul Haque, filmmaker Amitabh Reza, poet Chanchal Ashraf, journalist Ahmad Mostafa Kamal, writer Jharna Rahman, filmmaker Masud Pathik, actor Moutushi Biswas, poet Tokon Tagore, and author-journalist Humayun Kabir Dhali. Speakers at the protest site claimed that the recent communal violence was nothing but a conspiracy, based on the rumours that the Holy Quran had been disrespected at a puja mandap in Cumilla. "It has become clear to us that similar occurrences are occurring as a result of the government's impunity culture. We've seen in the past how the Hindu and Buddhist communities have been targeted and attacked purposefully based on false rumours spread on social media, none of which has been thoroughly examined and the culprits have not been brought to punishment," the speakers said. "Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony. In 1971, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians of all faiths fought side by side and made Bangladesh independent; but in the last 50 years after independence, every government has abandoned the spirit of the Liberation War to go to power by colluding with communal forces or to go to shameless competition for power. Article 32 of the constitution has given way to the formation of religion-based political parties," they alleged. Renowned writer Swakrito Noman raised eight-point demands at the event, on behalf of the organisers.  The demands include identifying the communal attackers in different parts of the country centring on this year's Durga Puja and arresting and prosecuting them immediately; identifying the real reasons behind the communal attacks in Ramu, Nasirnagar, Shalla, Cumilla, Hajiganj, Noakhali and Rangpur; taking steps to stop communal and misogynistic statements on social media including Facebook, YouTube and Waz Mahfil; and the abolition of 'state religion' from the Constitution.

Tuesday marks the 97th birth anniversary of renowned artist SM Sultan. He  was born at Machimdia village in Narail sadar upazila on this day in 1924. Celebrating the birth of the eminent art genius, the Narail district administration and SM Sultan Foundation are jointly observing the day with a handful of events. Read: 26th death anniversary of SM Sultan today Due to the ongoing pandemic situation of Covid-19, the birth anniversary of this great artist is being celebrated on a limited scale with due dignity through various programs initiated by the district administration and SM Sultan Foundation, Narail, according to the media cell of the Narail district administration. The programmes included recitation from the holy Qur’an, placing floral wreaths at the grave of the artist, a prayer session and a discussion on the life of the artist, organized at the SM Sultan Complex on Tuesday morning. Mohammad Habibur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of Narail, laid a floral wreath at the legendary artist’s grave, on behalf of district administration and Artist SM Sultan Foundation, Narail. Tributes were also paid by various governmental and non-governmental social and cultural organizations including District Police, Narail Press Club, District Shilpakala Academy, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote and more.

The 24th edition of the National Art Exhibition 2021, a flagship art venture by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), will begin on June 29.Due to the ongoing global pandemic, the biennale exhibition will be a virtual event this year for the first time in history, according to the academy. BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky and the its Director of Fine Arts department Syeda Mahbuba Karim shared the details of the exhibition at a virtual press conference on Sunday at BSA's official Facebook page. Read: Registration deadline for 24th National Art Exhibition extended to May 26State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid will virtually inaugurate the month-long virtual exhibition on June 29 at 4 pm as the chief guest of the inaugural ceremony.Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Badrul Arefin will join the event as the guest of honor, while eminent artist Abdul Mannan will join the inauguration ceremony as the special guest.  BSA's Director of Fine Arts Syeda Mahbuba Karim will deliver the welcome speech and the inauguration ceremony will be chaired by BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky. At the virtual press briefing, the organizers said that of the 1000-plus artworks submitted by a total of 786 artists, the 347 artworks of different mediums and genres by 323 artists will be displayed at the 24th edition of this exhibition. Read:US Ambassador Miller visits art exhibition on PM at Cosmos Centre A five-member selection committee consisting of artists Mamun Kayser, Mahmuda Begum, Muslim Mia, Swapan Kumar Sikder, and Faruk Ahammad Molla selected the artworks for the exhibition this year. The organizers informed that a total of 157 paintings, 47 sculptures, 53 prints, 17 photographs, 18 installations, 10 oriental artworks, 20 crafts, 7 new media works, 5 graphics works, and 7 potteries will be on display, alongside 6 special performance art shows.In addition to these presentations, a special segment consisting of four art projects, curated by four renowned artists will also be displayed in this year's exhibition. A team of 10 artists in each group who worked under the curators Kanak Chanpa Chakma, Zihan Karim, Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, and Joydeb Roaja will display their works in this segment. final selection committee as the jury board to nominate the best artworks is comprised of noted artists Farida Zaman, Abdul Mannan, Abul Barq Alvi, Mostafa Sharif Anwar, Mustafa Zaman, and Syeda Mahbuba Karim. Read:Month-long art exhibition focuses on COVID-19, its impactEleven artists will receive the best awards in eleven categories, while five honorable mention awards will be given to five artists from different categories. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Award 2021, the top award covering all categories, will honor the best artist in the exhibition. Additionally, there are five awards sponsored by different organizations. The awardees will receive cash prize money, certificates, medals, and crests. Started as a biennale back in 1975, the exhibition has earned recognition from art-lovers  as a festivity and celebration of modern artworks and crafts by artists from all over the country. Art enthusiasts can explore the 24th edition of this biennale exhibition from June 29 to July 31 at www.shilpakala.gov.bd and www.facebook.com/shilpakalapage. 

Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday said artists have done a fabulous job by pouring their hearts and souls in their artworks on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.