A minute's silence was observed at the Joy Bangla Concert 2023 in Dhaka’s Army Stadium today to pay homage to the victims of yesterday’s blast in a Gulistan building. Young Bangla, a youth platform of the Center for Research and Information (CRI), is organizing the Joy Bangla Concert for the seventh time. At least 17 people were killed after an explosion ripped through a commercial building in the capital's Gulistan area yesterday. More than 100 people were injured in the blast. The concert began with condolences for the people killed and injured in the blast. Read more: Joy Bangla Concert 2023: Young music lovers counting hours The Centre for Research & Information (CRI) and its youth secretariat, Young Bangla, have been organizing the concert since 2015 to commemorate the historic March 7 speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The concert was not held in the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Although the concert is generally held on March 7, this year's event was moved to March 8 due to the holy Shab-e-Barat. After two years of hiatus, the concert returned, aiming to instill the spirit of the Liberation War in young minds. According to the organizers, Artcell, Avoid Rafa, Lalon, Chirkutt, Cryptic Fate, Karnival, Meghdol, Nemesis, and Arekta Rock Band are performing today at the Joy Bangla Concert 2023.  

To spread the ideals of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman among the students, bKash will distribute 20,000 copies of graphic novel 'Mujib' in 500 Bangla and English medium schools across the country this year. The mobile financial service provider has taken this initiative to mark Bangabandhu’s birth centenary and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence. Under the patronisation of bKash, graphic novel ‘Mujib’, published by Center for Research and Information (CRI) based on Bangabandhu's autobiography ‘Oshomapto Attojiboni’ (‘The Unfinished Memoirs’), will be distributed in schools by Bishwo Shahitto Kendro (BSK), an organisation well-known for enlightening minds. Read Bangabandhu Memorial Museum: Witness to History and Tragedy bKash will expand the programme with support of BSK to more schools along with the existing ones after the publication of next editions of the graphic novel. Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, the founder of Bishwo Shahitto Kendro, inaugurated the project by handing over the books to the school representatives at BSK Auditorium on Wednesday. Kamal Quadir, Chief Executive Officer of bKash; Arif Khan, trustee of Bishwo Shahitto Kendro and Major General Sheikh Md Monirul Islam (retd), Chief External and Corporate Affairs Officer of bKash were present on the occasion. Also read: 8th episode of Mujib Graphic Novel to be unveiled this evening 'Mujib' depicts direct experience of Bangabandhu's childhood, adolescence and social and political activities in a format suitable for both children and adolescents with a vibrant combination of dialogues, stories and illustrations. Graphic novel ‘Mujib’ will give readers of all ages the opportunity to know more about Bangabandhu, the greatest Bengali of all time and the architect of the sovereign Bangladesh. Five sets of the graphic novel which means a total of 40 books will be given to each of the 500 Bangla and English medium schools across the country. As a result, 40 students will get the opportunity to read the book from school library at the same time. Read Schools, colleges likely to remain closed until Eid: Dipu Professor Sayeed said bKash has vested the responsibility on them to spread the biography of the greatest leader of to the children. “Bangabandhu’s vigor, visionary nature, ability to dream big, unwavering devotion to be faithful, extraordinary personality and love for the people are exemplary for us. Bengalis were lucky to have a Sheikh Mujib, without whose thunderous voice, impeccable courage and extraordinary leadership, Bangladesh might have taken another 500 years to become independent,” he said. “bKash’s initiative to spread the book in schools across the country has created an opportunity for students to know more about our father of nation. Let Mujib open the pages of wisdom in our hearts, let Mujib awaken everyone's blood - I have this dream.” Also read: Graphic novel ‘Mujib’ launched in Japanese language  Kamal Quadir, CEO of bKash, said the autobiography written by Bangabandhu, while he was imprisoned, is a historical document for us. “In his memoirs, Bangabandhu presented many important chapters of history very passionately and sincerely. The way he laid the foundation of leadership is exemplary for today's children and teenagers. The graphic novel ‘Mujib’ is a unique initiative to make these exemplary stories more attractive to future generations. bKash is proud to be a partner of this initiative to celebrate the birth centenary of Mujib and the golden jubilee of our independence,” he said. bKash has provided 253,600 books to 3.2 million students from 2,900 educational institutions since 2014 to cultivate the habit of reading books among next generation. Read Bangabandhu would have been proud of Bangladesh’s achievements: Macron In 2020 Book Fair, bKash collected books from visitors, donated from its own fund and distributed all 7,500 books among the underprivileged children through Obhizatrik Foundation. The MFS provider has been offering cashback at book fair for the last eight years to encourage people to buy books. bKash has also been working with Bangla Academy as the key sponsor of Ekushey Book Fair for the last four years. Read Startup Bangladesh Ltd to invest Tk 100 crore for 50 startups marking birth centennial of Bangabandhu and Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh