United News of Bangladesh

Gallery Cosmos and Cosmos Atelier-71 are set to host the 13th session of Cosmos Art Echo featuring distinguished Bangladeshi artist Tayeba Begum Lipi on Friday. Titled ‘Being & Belonging’, the art talk will be held at 5pm at Cosmos Centre, 69/1 New Circular Road, Malibagh, Dhaka. The session will bring together artists, art practitioners, researchers, educators and art connoisseurs for an intimate dialogue with Lipi on her artistic journey, creative practice and reflections on art, identity, belonging and contemporary life. Born in Gaibandha, Lipi earned her MFA from the Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University. She is also the co-founder and trustee of Britto Arts Trust, an artist-led organisation involved in promoting contemporary art practices and international artistic exchange. Lipi has held 17 solo exhibitions in Bangladesh and abroad, along with six duo exhibitions with her husband, artist Mahbubur Rahman. She has also participated in numerous group exhibitions at home and abroad. Her solo exhibitions and art projects were presented in Singapore, Istanbul, London, Dhaka, New York, Hong Kong and Delhi, while her artistic practice has been featured at major international institutions including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, Tate Modern in London, Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum in the United States, Modern Art Museum in Shanghai, Arnhem Museum, Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Centraal Museum in the Netherlands and Kunsthaus Zürich. Lipi served as the commissioner of the Pavilion of Bangladesh at the 54th Venice Biennale in 2011. She has also served as a jury and co-jury at various art exhibitions and events in Bangladesh and abroad. She has participated in art workshops, artist residencies and art talks in Bangladesh and different countries around the world. She has also received various awards and honours in recognition of her artistic practice and contributions. Her major international engagements include the Guggenheim UBS MAP Exhibition in New York, Singapore and Hong Kong in 2013-14, SONSBEEK 2016 in Arnhem, Thailand Biennale Chiang Rai 2023, Being and Belonging at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Statement Chairs at Centraal Museum in the Netherlands, Feminist Futures: Art, Activism and South Asian Womanhood in Kathmandu and Colombo, and Sculpture Contemporaine at Fondation Villa Datris in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, France. As part of Britto Arts Trust, Lipi has also been involved in major international exhibitions and platforms including documenta fifteen in Kassel, ReCollect at Kunsthaus Zürich, Harewood Biennale in the UK, Asia Now Paris, the 2nd Diriyah Biennale in Riyadh, 1+1 Relational Years at MAXXI in Rome, and the 54th and 56th Venice Biennales in 2011 and 2015. Her works are included in the collections of leading museums and institutions including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Tate Modern, Kunsthaus Zürich, Royal Ontario Museum, Centraal Museum, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Smith College Museum of Art, Devi Art Foundation in India, Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation in Sydney, and Bengal Foundation and Samdani Art Foundation in Bangladesh, among others. Lipi’s work and practice have also been featured in international publications and books, including ‘50 Contemporary Women Artists: Groundbreaking Contemporary Art from 1960 to Now’, edited by John Gosslee and Heather Zises, with a foreword by Elizabeth Sackler and published by Schiffer Publishing in 2018. Her work has also been documented in publications and catalogues associated with Being and Belonging at the Royal Ontario Museum and Artist as Activist at the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum. The programme will provide participants with an opportunity for meaningful discussion and interaction with Lipi on her artistic practice and contemporary art.

Veteran Indian actor and filmmaker Nana Patekar died Thursday at his home in Goa. He was 75. Patekar died of a suspected cardiac arrest, the Press Trust of India reported, quoting a doctor at the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Born in Maharashtra in 1951, Patekar had a career spanning nearly five decades in Hindi and Marathi cinema. He was widely known for his powerful performances and for playing complex and unconventional characters. Patekar made his film debut in the 1978 Hindi movie “Gaman.” He later earned praise for his roles in “Parinda” and “Krantiveer.” He gained international attention with Mira Nair’s Oscar-nominated film “Salaam Bombay!” Patekar won three National Film Awards, India’s highest film honors, and received the Padma Shri, one of the country’s highest civilian awards. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow over his death and praised Patekar for his “intensity, individuality and unmistakable presence” as an actor. “He brought remarkable versatility and creativity to every role and gave us characters that will be remembered for generations,” Modi wrote on X. Patekar is survived by his wife and son.

Eva Marie Saint, the acclaimed actor who won an Academy Award for her film debut in “On the Waterfront” and starred opposite Cary Grant in Alfred Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest,” has died at 102. Saint, whose acting career continued into her 90s, died at her home in Los Angeles on Tuesday, family representative Jeff Sanderson confirmed. She made one of Hollywood’s most memorable debuts as Edie Doyle, the love interest of Marlon Brando’s troubled character Terry Malloy in “On the Waterfront.” Her first Academy Awards ceremony was equally memorable. Pregnant with her first child, Saint accepted the Oscar from Frank Sinatra and joked, “I think I may have the baby right here.” Her son, Darrell, was born two days later. The 1954 film made her an instant star, but Saint soon became known for carefully choosing her roles. She turned down studio contracts and several major film offers, saying she wanted to spend time with her newborn son. Her daughter, Laurette, was born in 1958. A selective careerDuring her first 10 years in Hollywood, Saint appeared in only seven films. She turned down roles in “The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit” with Gregory Peck, “Summer and Smoke” with Laurence Harvey and “The Rainmaker” with Burt Lancaster. Her husband, television and stage director Jeffrey Hayden, encouraged her to accept a role in Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest.” In the 1959 thriller, Saint played a spy who seduces Grant before falling in love with him. “I vividly remember him saying, ‘Honey, I think you should find a quiet spot. I’ll take care of the children and I want you to really think about this and reread this script,’” she told Vanity Fair in 2014. “He was so right. And that’s what husbands are for.” Despite her selective approach, studios continued offering her leading roles. She later appeared in films including “Exodus” with Paul Newman, “Raintree County” with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift, and “All Fall Down” with Warren Beatty. Saint moved increasingly into television during the 1970s. She became popular again in the 1980s as Cybill Shepherd’s mother in the hit sitcom “Moonlighting” and as Tom Hanks’ mother in the comedy “Nothing in Common.” She won an Emmy in 1990 for the miniseries “People Like Us.” Her later film credits included “Because of Winn-Dixie,” “Superman Returns” and “Winter’s Tale.” In 2021, she appeared as Marisa Tomei’s aunt in “The Bus Ride,” a short audio play from “The Pack Podcast.” Saint was married to Hayden for 65 years until his death in 2016. That was her real nameSaint was born Eva Marie Saint on July 4, 1924, in Newark, New Jersey. Many people later assumed her name was a stage name because it sounded theatrical. Her family moved to Delmar, a small town near Albany, New York, where her father worked as a manager for Goodrich Rubber Co. Saint initially wanted to become a third-grade teacher like her mother. However, while studying at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, she auditioned for a play and won the lead role. After graduating, she returned to live with her parents and looked for acting work in Manhattan. After a year without success, she landed a small radio role as a telephone operator. She soon began working regularly in soap operas and television dramas, including a two-year role as Claudia on “One Man’s Family.” Television was expanding rapidly in the early 1950s, and Saint’s appearance and acting ability made her popular with casting directors and producers. Strasberg helped her overcome shynessA major turning point came when Saint auditioned for director Elia Kazan and was accepted into the Actors Studio, which became influential in shaping a generation of method actors. She later credited acting coach Lee Strasberg with helping her overcome her shyness. “Lee Strasberg, when he got to know me a little bit, gave me a scene to do where I had to cry in front of my peers,” she told The Santa Barbara Independent in 2009. “I worried about it, I worked on it, I tried to use what I was learning at the studio.” Saint was initially rejected for the only female role in the play “Mister Roberts.” However, she was hired as an understudy for Jocelyn Brando, Marlon Brando’s sister. She spent six months waiting for an opportunity to perform but never replaced Brando. She eventually made her Broadway debut in “A Trip to Bountiful,” a play she had previously performed on television. Kazan later invited her to audition for the female lead in “On the Waterfront.” During the audition, she improvised a scene with Brando in which she tried to prevent a young man from entering her apartment. “All I know is that Marlon got in the door and turned on the music. We started dancing. He flicked my skirt. Kazan saw the sparks fly, and that’s how I got the part,” she told the Los Angeles Times in 2001.

An Israeli documentary accusing the country's military of recklessly killing civilians in Gaza is opening in U.S. theaters, potentially reviving debate over American military support for Israel ahead of congressional elections. "NAZA," named after the Hebrew acronym for collateral damage, features anonymous Israeli military insiders who allege that Israel used sophisticated, including artificial intelligence-powered, systems to identify suspected militants and conduct strikes despite knowing that many civilians could be killed. The documentary received a record 25-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival. Its release has also triggered strong criticism in Israel, which will hold elections later this month. The Israeli military has categorically rejected the filmmakers' findings and threatened to identify soldiers who spoke to them. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the film antisemitic, while a Cabinet minister threatened to revoke the filmmakers' citizenship. Co-director Yuval Abraham has said he fears returning to Israel. At the film's New York premiere last month, protesters displayed images from the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war. Abraham condemned the attack but said it could not justify the killing of civilians in Gaza. Abraham and co-director Rachel Szor previously made "No Other Land," which won an Oscar but drew anger in Israel. "NAZA" consists largely of nighttime interviews on Tel Aviv rooftops, with the interviewees' faces and voices concealed. Some use drawings to explain the systems they describe. The filmmakers say the sources spoke anonymously because of fears of retaliation and that their claims were thoroughly checked. The interviewees describe AI systems that analyze surveillance footage, identify people with alleged Hamas links and create databases containing tens of thousands of names. Another system, they say, recommends buildings for attacks. One source alleged that an operation targeting a single Hamas militant was approved despite an estimate of 500 civilian deaths. The military denied the claim. Much of the reporting had previously appeared in +972 Magazine, Local Call and The Guardian, which collaborated on the documentary. The Israeli military said its orders clearly distinguish between militants and civilians and that it seeks to minimize civilian casualties. It acknowledged using AI but said intelligence officers select targets and operational commanders decide whether to strike. The film's reporting is based on interviews with more than 100 confidential sources conducted with The Guardian's investigation desk between 2023 and 2025. Rights groups and experts have accused Israel of genocide over civilian deaths, destruction and restrictions on aid. Israel rejects the allegations, saying it sought to protect civilians while fighting Hamas. Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 others in the Oct. 7 attack. Israel's offensive has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians, including over 1,400 since a fragile ceasefire began a year ago, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry's figures do not distinguish between civilians and militants but say women and children account for about half the deaths. "NAZA" is being released in the U.S. without a traditional distributor. It is playing at New York's IFC Center and will expand to cities including Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle on Oct. 9. It will be available for free streaming on The Guardian's website in late November. The Committee to Protect Journalists and the International Documentary Association have condemned threats against the filmmakers. More than 2,000 people, including prominent Israeli filmmakers, have signed a petition supporting Abraham and Szor. The filmmakers say they want audiences in both Israel and the United States to understand the situation in Gaza and America's role in supporting Israel. A study published last year estimated that the Biden and Trump administrations provided at least $21.7 billion in military assistance to Israel during the first two years of the war. "Much of what is being described was done with American taxpayer money," Abraham said.

Former Ohio music pastor and “American Idol” contestant Caleb Flynn was sentenced Monday to life in prison without parole after a jury convicted him of murdering his wife while having an affair. The judge said Flynn, 40, used his Christian faith to manipulate others and showed no remorse for actions involving “layers of deceit, manipulation and cruelty.” Flynn wept as he apologized to his family before sentencing, beginning with his two young daughters, who were home when he shot their mother, Ashley Flynn, while she slept. He described their births as the “greatest joy in this life.” Although Flynn said he accepted responsibility for his words and decisions, he continued to insist he was innocent. “As I stand here before God, who is my ultimate judge, I am not lying when I say I did not kill my wife,” he said. Prosecutors said Flynn staged a home invasion in February and falsely claimed that a burglar had killed Ashley, a 37-year-old schoolteacher and volleyball coach. Flynn briefly appeared on “American Idol” in 2013, crediting Ashley with encouraging him to pursue his singing ambitions. He did not advance to the main Hollywood competition. Flynn did not testify during the trial, and no witnesses testified on his behalf. Ashley’s family supported the harsh sentence but said they had forgiven Flynn because they did not want hatred to define her legacy. Her sister, Kayla Keyt, said the killing had deeply affected their church community, with children running into their parents’ bedrooms to make sure their fathers had not killed their mothers. Prosecutors said Flynn wanted to end his marriage and sent his lover a message the night before the shooting saying, “I choose you. I’m free. Actions will come tomorrow.” His lover, Alleigha Botner, testified that she met Flynn in 2022 and had an affair with him for more than a year. She said he told her he hated his wife and had considered killing her. The murder weapon was not found, but prosecutors said Flynn’s fingerprints and DNA were at the scene and electronic data showed him moving around the house despite claiming he was asleep. The jury convicted him of murder, felonious assault and tampering with evidence.

British bestselling novelist Jeffrey Archer, whose political career was ruined by a conviction for perjury, has died at the age of 86. Archer died “suddenly and peacefully” at his home on Monday, a day before the worldwide release of his final novel, Adam and Eve, publisher HarperCollins said. Like his bestselling novel Kane and Abel, the new book follows two characters named after biblical figures who are born on the same day but grow up in different social classes. Archer enjoyed a decades-long career as a successful author while facing repeated political and personal controversies. He continued writing through a prison sentence and later returned to the political arena. His literary career spanned five decades and helped him recover from financial difficulties caused by unsuccessful investments. His debut novel, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less, was published in 1976 and was reportedly inspired by his own experience of coming close to bankruptcy. According to HarperCollins, Archer spent 14 years and five months on Britain's Sunday Times bestseller lists and more than five years on The New York Times bestseller lists. His books sold 300 million copies worldwide. Archer rose through the ranks of Britain's Conservative Party under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. In 1992, he was appointed to the House of Lords by her successor, Prime Minister John Major. However, his political career collapsed after allegations emerged that he had lied under oath during a libel case more than a decade earlier. The allegations surfaced in 1999 while he was running for mayor of London. Archer had sued a newspaper that accused him of paying a sex worker and won £500,000 in damages. A jury later found that he had fabricated an alibi during the 1987 case against the Daily Star. He was convicted of perjury and jailed for four years in 2001, after being expelled from the Conservative Party. He was released early in 2003 after serving slightly more than two years. Despite his conviction, Archer retained his seat in the House of Lords as there was no legal mechanism at the time to remove him. He continued as a politically unaffiliated member until retiring in 2024. Archer later documented his prison experiences in a three-volume memoir series titled A Prison Diary. The books, Hell, Purgatory and Heaven, offered insights into life inside British prisons, including the high-security HMP Belmarsh and the open prison North Sea Camp. Before his imprisonment, Archer had also campaigned to change royal succession laws to give daughters equal rights with sons. His efforts later helped inspire the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, which ended the centuries-old practice of giving younger sons precedence over their older sisters in the line of succession. Gender inequality and social differences also featured in his literary work. His final novel, Adam and Eve, tells the story of an earl's daughter, whose father wanted a son to inherit his estate, and a shepherd's son, whose father wanted a daughter because he feared a son would be sent to war. Describing the book as a love story and a reflection on social class set against the backdrop of war, Archer said Adam and Eve had been “the most satisfying thing I have ever written.” Archer is survived by his wife of 60 years, Dame Mary Archer, their two sons, two granddaughters and three grandsons, HarperCollins said.

AUST EEE Day 2026, the flagship semester fest of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) at Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST), will be held Tuesday at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), bringing together students, faculty members, alumni and industry leaders. Organised by Soroikko-50 and co-organised by Trayottik-55 under the AUST EEE Society, the fest will begin at 1 pm on Oct 6. The event aims to create a platform where engineering education, emerging technology, industry and culture come together, while providing students with opportunities to showcase their talents and interact directly with corporate and technology-sector leaders. The organisers said the fest will also help students gain exposure to real-world technologies and career perspectives as they prepare to enter the workforce. The Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Chery and the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Neural Semiconductor are expected to attend the programme and deliver speeches. The Vice-Chancellor of AUST, professors and faculty members, current students and distinguished alumni will also attend the event. Around 2,000 participants are expected to join the fest. AUST EEE Day will feature various student performances alongside activities aimed at strengthening ties among students, faculty members and alumni. The event also seeks to encourage young engineers to explore innovation in areas including automotive technology, semiconductors and sustainable energy. Chery is the title sponsor, Neural Semiconductor the powered-by partner and Superstar Group the driven-by partner. Gigabyte, Polar Ice Cream and Omera Solar are also among the sponsors. As part of the fest, Chery is showcasing its vehicles at the AUST campus on Oct 4 and 5. The showcase will continue at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Oct 6. The fest will conclude with a live concert by popular singer and composer Habib Wahid. United News of Bangladesh (UNB) is the media partner of AUST EEE Day 2026.

The casting of Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep to voice Aslan the lion in Greta Gerwig's upcoming adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia has sparked controversy among conservative Christian commentators, even though the public has yet to see a single frame of the film. The critics have expressed concern over a female actor voicing Aslan, a central character in the seven-book fantasy series by British Christian author C.S. Lewis. Published in the 1950s, the books portray the lion as male, with a magnificent mane, and Aslan is widely regarded as a literary representation of Jesus Christ. Filmmakers often make changes when adapting literary works for the screen. Gerwig, for instance, has moved the setting of The Magician's Nephew from around 1900 to the 1950s. However, the decision to cast Streep does not necessarily mean Aslan will be portrayed as female. Conservative Christian critics argue that even the possibility of presenting a figure associated with Christ as anything other than male goes beyond artistic freedom. They point to the Bible and ancient Christian creeds, which refer to God as the Father and Jesus as the Son of God. Seth Udinsky, writing for the evangelical news website Christian Post, described the casting as an attempt to undermine Christian symbols. He also accused Gerwig of making Aslan transgender, citing a promotional image showing the lion with rainbow-coloured whiskers. The casting has also drawn mixed reactions on social media, including numerous comments and counterarguments under Netflix's Instagram post announcing the decision. Some scholars and admirers of Lewis's work have urged people to wait until the film is released before reaching a conclusion. Kat Coffin, a New York-based writer and Lewis scholar, said she had questions about the casting but was more troubled by the intense hostility towards the possibility of a feminine portrayal of a figure representing God. The film is scheduled for theatrical release in February. Gerwig seeks a voice with wisdom and wonder Gerwig has not directly addressed the controversy over Aslan's gender. However, she has explained the qualities she wanted in the actor voicing the character. “I wanted someone who was profound but not pretentious, who had gravitas but not morose self-seriousness,” Gerwig said. She said she wanted a voice capable of conveying emotional depth, sadness, joy and delight. She also sought someone older than 70 who could bring the wisdom of experience while retaining a child's sense of wonder. Gerwig said she first read The Magician's Nephew as a child and fell in love with its story and magical world. The director is known for bringing feminist perspectives to films such as Barbie and Little Women, the latter also based on a classic work of children's literature. A report in film magazine Empire has added to the debate, saying Gerwig drew inspiration from pop artist David Bowie, known for his gender-fluid image, when developing Aslan's appearance, including the lion's differently coloured eyes and bold red-striped face. Published in 1955, The Magician's Nephew follows two children, Digory and Polly, who travel between parallel worlds through magic. They eventually reach the newly created land of Narnia but inadvertently bring along the evil witch Jadis. In this and later books in the series, Aslan guides young characters in their struggle against evil. Critics question changes to Christian themes Ted Baehr, founder and publisher of Movieguide, which advises Christian families on film and television content, said casting a woman to voice Aslan challenged Christian teachings about the nature of God. He acknowledged Gerwig's directing abilities but questioned whether she fully understood the importance of the character to many Christians. Although Lewis said his Narnia books were not allegories, they contain strong parallels with biblical stories and Christian beliefs, Baehr said. He argued that the series could not be adapted in the same way as Greek mythology in Christopher Nolan's recent film The Odyssey. “The Gospel is not a myth,” he said. The controversy reflects the strong connection many Christians, particularly evangelicals, feel with Lewis, whose fiction and non-fiction works promoted Christian teachings. The Narnia series has reportedly sold 120 million copies worldwide since the publication of its first volume 75 years ago this month. Many Christian readers feel a strong personal attachment to the stories because of their religious themes. Author Christin Ditchfield Lazo, who has written books about Lewis, said the stories had deeply influenced millions of readers, particularly those who value their spiritual messages. She encouraged Christians to wait until the film's release before judging the casting decision. “There's a huge difference between a woman voicing a male character and the director changing the gender of the character,” she said, adding that the decision could raise concerns but its implications would not be clear until audiences watched the film. She also noted that actors have long played or voiced characters of different genders, from Shakespearean theatre to modern animated productions. Lewis family expresses support for Gerwig Several evangelical Christians embraced the film adaptations of the first three Narnia books released in the early 2000s, in which actor Liam Neeson provided Aslan's deep, masculine voice. Coffin noted that literary works have sometimes portrayed God through feminine characteristics. She pointed out that Aslan also appears as a lamb in the Narnia series, with a voice Lewis described as “sweet milky”. A statement from the family of Lewis's late wife, Joy Davidman Gresham, praised Gerwig's enthusiasm for the books. “We saw this enthusiasm during our visit to the set in London,” the statement, provided by Netflix, said. The family expressed excitement about working with the director and production team on the film and future projects. The C.S. Lewis Company, which holds the rights to Lewis's intellectual property and is producing the film, also welcomed Gerwig's approach. The company said it was deeply moved by the director's commitment to Lewis's fictional world and her efforts to bring joy, emotion and genuine affection for the story to The Magician's Nephew.

Musician and actor Pritom Hasan and actress-model Shahtaj Monira Hashem have announced that they have mutually decided to end their marriage and move forward with a divorce. The couple made the announcement in identical posts on their respective official social media handles on Saturday night, saying they had reached the decision after much thoughtful consideration. “Shahtaj and I have mutually and amicably decided to end our marriage after ten years together,” Pritom wrote in his post. A similar statement was also shared by Shahtaj. They said they remain grateful for the memories they shared and continue to care for each other, but gradually realised that they were “better off separate ways due to lack of mutual understanding.” “With the support from our families, we are moving forward with a divorce,” they said. The couple also requested their friends, colleagues and the media to respect their privacy during the transition. Pritom and Shahtaj tied the knot at a private ceremony at a five-star hotel in Sreemangal on Oct 28, 2022, after keeping their relationship largely private for several years. Their wedding was attended by close friends and family members. The couple had first met while working on the music video for Pritom's song ‘Jadukor’. Pritom later said that they had been close friends before their relationship developed, while reports at the time noted that they had kept their relationship away from public attention for around five years. Pritom, son of late singer Khalid Hasan Milu and younger brother of singer Protic Hasan, is known for his work as a singer, composer and actor. His acting credits include Nuhash Humayun's ‘700 Taka’, Adnan Al Rajeev's ‘YouTumor’ and Chorki's ‘Araal’. Shahtaj is an actress, model and singer who has appeared in television dramas, films and music videos. She made her mainstream acting debut through television and was also part of the anthology film ‘Iti, Tomari Dhaka’. The couple concluded their joint statement by thanking everyone for their understanding and support, while asking for “privacy and grace” as they navigate their next chapter.

Bangladeshi author Shazia Omar launched her third novel, Being Water, at Bookworm in Shahabuddin Park, Gulshan-2 on Saturday, closing the weekend literary festival organised by Bookworm in collaboration with HerStory. The launch featured a conversation with Professor Firdous Azim, Chair of the Department of English and Humanities at BRAC University, who also moderated the launches of Omar's first novel, Like a Diamond in the Sky, and second novel, Dark Diamond, in 2016. The conversation brought together the writer and the academic who had followed Omar's literary journey from her debut to her latest work, published by Om Books International in June 2026. Being Water follows Nora, a British Bengali woman struggling with the aftermath of a family rupture, as well as difficulties in her career and relationships. On her therapist's advice, Nora travels to Galle Fort in Sri Lanka, hoping to distance herself from the turmoil in her life. But the journey gradually forces her to confront memories of the past. Set against Galle's colonial architecture, cultural history and layered relationship with trade, empire and migration, the novel explores grief, art, inheritance and the body's memory. The Ramayana runs beneath the narrative as a recurring presence, drawing on themes of captivity, waiting and release. "I wanted to write about the kind of grief that lingers," said Omar. "Nora goes to Sri Lanka to get away from herself, which is the one journey nobody completes. Healing isn't gentle. It breaks you before it remakes you." Omar's debut novel, Like a Diamond in the Sky, was published by Zubaan-Penguin, while Dark Diamond was published by Bloomsbury in 2016. She also writes the column Kundalini Rising for The Daily Star and is the author of Intentional Smile, a guide to positive living, and two children's books. She has edited two short story anthologies by Bangladeshi authors and led writing communities Writers Block and Pen Warriors for several years. An Ashtanga yoga teacher with a background in psychology, Omar has worked at Lehman Brothers and the World Bank. She is also the founder of Flow Fest, a wellbeing and cultural platform that has reached more than 40,000 people across Bangladesh. Being Water was published by Om Books International in June 2026 and is available at Bookworm and leading bookshops across South Asia.