It was a musical night to remember, all thanks to Munich-based German collective JISR that cast a spell on music lovers in Dhaka on Tuesday with its performance of fusion melody -- from Arabic classical music to African Gnawa grooves and German Krautrock. The concert was held at National Theatre Hall of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), celebrating the Mujib Borsho alongside 60 years of the Goethe-Institut in Bangladesh and 50 years of diplomatic ties between Bangladesh and Germany. Organized by the German cultural organisation, the special concert -- “JISR // Brücke: From The Isar To The Ganges” -- was arranged in partnership with the German Embassy in Dhaka and BSA. The concert was joined by Achim Tröster, Ambassador of Germany to Bangladesh, alongside Dr Kirsten Hackenbroch, director of Goethe-Institut Bangladesh, and BSA director general Liaquat Ali Lucky, as the special guests. Read: German music collective JISR to perform in Dhaka Lauding the special event, Ambassador Achim Tröster said, "This year marks 50 years of diplomatic relationship between Bangladesh and Germany. In 1972, Germany was one of the first countries in Europe to recognise the People's Republic of Bangladesh. "A strong pillar of our bilateral relationship remains the development cooperation in the areas of climate change, good governance, renewable energy and recently also for the Rohingyas and host communities. “However, the cultural and educational cooperation between Germany and Bangladesh dates back even before our diplomatic relationship. Today's concert is also a part of our cultural cooperation uniting musicians from the two countries." Dr Hackenbroch, on her part, said, "I congratulate the people of Bangladesh on 50 years of being who you wanted to be: citizens of an independent country. Celebrating 50 years of German-Bangladeshi diplomatic relations, there is no one better on the stage than JISR - Arabic for 'bridge'.

Commemorating the legacy of the 1952 Language Movement and the glorious sacrifices of the language martyrs, an online platform is organising a virtual debate on February 11 to discuss language and its correlation with the society and culture in Bangladesh.