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Sabbir Romeo's short film ‘Nibhe Jawa Pradeep’ to release on International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Marking the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Sunday, Ahmed Sabbir Romeo has directed a touching short film, ‘Nibhe Jawa Pradeep’.
The short film portrays the heartfelt story of a child with disability whose only sister becomes helpless and faces physical abuse from a masked wealthy individual in society while covering medical expenses for her brother.
In addition to the director, Priyanka Islam and child artist Al Shahriar also feature in the film.
AK Azad served as the Director of Photography, while film director Monir Hossain Mithu handled overall management.
The film will be released tomorrow (Sunday) evening on the Priyanka Vision YouTube channel.
December 3rd is globally recognized as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
This year, the day marks the 32nd celebration of this day, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and safeguarding the well-being of individuals facing physical and mental disabilities worldwide.
Additionally, Bangladesh is commemorating its 25th National Day of Persons with Disabilities this year.
‘Forced to Flee’: Mobile filmmaking workshop ends with MoU signing at ULAB
A five-week-long mobile filmmaking workshop organized jointly by the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) came to an end on Friday.
The workshop was held at the permanent campus of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB).
Inaugurated with the welcome speech by ULAB Pro-Vice-Chancellor Jude Willian Genilo, the event observed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) underscoring the commitment to fostering filmmaking as a means of amplifying refugee narratives by the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Sumbul Rizvi, the country representative, UNHCR, Bangladesh.
Prof Jude William Genilo shared insights into the importance of storytelling and commended the young students for their passion and commitment to filmmaking, emphasizing the profound impact such narratives can have on raising awareness and fostering empathy.He also shared that the MoU signing and the partnership with UNHCR aims to empower storytellers to amplify the voices of those 'Forced to Flee' and create a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by the refugees.The chief guest of the event, Sumbul Rizvi, the country representative of UNHCR, graced the occasion with her valuable insights into the world of filmmaking and the role it plays in presenting the stories of refugees as well as the transformative impact of mobile films in capturing the nuances of forced displacement and human resilience.She handed over the certificates to the dedicated participants after that, who completed the workshop.
Following this, the films were screened, based on the theme ‘Forced to Flee’ - written, produced, and directed by the student filmmakers. The workshop was attended by a total of 20 students from different universities. This workshop was coordinated by Md Rayhan Kabir Shuvro.
Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) Advisor Syeda Sadia Mahjabin and Instructor Humayun Farid, presented the vote of thanks at the end of the five-week-long workshop on ‘Forced to Flee’. After the main event, a cultural segment was held by ULAB students.
Established as a unique platform to showcase the creativity of young filmmakers, the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) started its journey in 2015 with the motto ‘New Generation, New Technology, and New Communication’. This event aims to encourage filmmaking through mobile phones.
The 10th edition of the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF'24) is scheduled to be held in February next year.
Girls Squad is Back!
Zara, Tonni, Riya, Faria, Mim, and Sabrina - six bachelor friends with unique personalities sharing the same flat - captivated audiences in 2021 with their tales of life, mishaps, love, and adventures in the popular drama series 'Girls Squad' on the renowned Bongo OTT platform.
The series swiftly gained immense popularity, and its title resonated across the nation.
Now, after two successful seasons, 'Girls Squad' is back with its much-anticipated third season.
Adding a new dynamic to the Squad, Bangladesh's beloved TikTok sensation, Shamima Afrin Omi, joins the cast for an exciting twist in Season 3.
The stories of the Girls Squad continue to unfold, with the latest season featuring the squad members engaged in various endeavors.
Tiktoker Omi takes on the role of the Squad's new flatmate, while Zara, portrayed by Nabila, is preparing for her wedding.
The squad attends the wedding, only to discover that Zara's marriage is to someone unexpected, deviating from the expected match with Gangua Bhai.
This pivotal moment sets the stage for the main storyline, with numerous incidents and adventures unfolding in the lives of the squad members.
Hridoy Zulfikar, Content Manager at Bongo, expressed enthusiasm about Girls Squad Season 3, stating, "Girls Squad has already become a popular series among viewers. The anticipation for the new season has been palpable for a long time, and we are receiving a positive response right after the release. We hope that, like the previous two seasons, this season will also be well-received by the audience."
Girls Squad Season 3 was released on the Bongo OTT platform on December 1 at 12:01am, said a media release on Friday.
Today in History: Actor Paul Walker dies in Porsche crash at age 40
Today is Thursday, Nov. 30, the 334th day of 2023. There are 31 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On Nov. 30, 2013, actor Paul Walker star of the “Fast & Furious” movie series, died with his friend, Roger W. Rodas, who was at the wheel of a Porsche sports car that crashed and burned north of Los Angeles. Walker was 40.
On this date:
In 1782, the United States and Britain signed preliminary peace articles in Paris for ending the Revolutionary War; the Treaty of Paris was signed in September 1783.
In 1803, Spain completed the process of ceding Louisiana to France, which had sold it to the United States.
In 1874, British statesman Sir Winston Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, England.
In 1981, the United States and the Soviet Union opened negotiations in Geneva aimed at reducing nuclear weapons in Europe.
In 1982, the motion picture “Gandhi,” starring Ben Kingsley as the Indian nationalist leader, had its world premiere in New Delhi.
In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the Brady Bill, which required a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases and background checks of prospective buyers.
Read: 12 Must-watch South Indian Films Releasing in December 2023
In 2000, Al Gore’s lawyers battled for his political survival in the Florida and U.S. Supreme Courts; meanwhile, GOP lawmakers in Tallahassee moved to award the presidency to George W. Bush in case the courts did not by appointing their own slate of electors.
In 2004, “Jeopardy!” fans saw Ken Jennings end his 74-game winning streak as he lost to real estate agent Nancy Zerg.
In 2010, the Obama administration announced that all 197 airlines that flew to the U.S. had begun collecting names, genders and birth dates of passengers so the government could check them against terror watch lists before they boarded flights.
In 2011, an Arizona jury sentenced convicted “Baseline Killer” Mark Goudeau (goo-DOH’) to death for killing nine people in the Phoenix area. (He remains on death row.)
In 2012, Israel approved the construction of 3,000 homes in Jewish settlements on occupied lands, drawing swift condemnation from the Palestinians a day after their successful bid for recognition by the United Nations.
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In 2017, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called on veteran Democratic congressman John Conyers to resign in the face of multiple accusations of sexual misconduct. (Conyers resigned five days later.)
In 2018, former President George H.W. Bush, a World War II hero who rose through the political ranks to the nation’s highest office, died at his Houston home at the age of 94; his wife of more than 70 years, Barbara Bush, had died in April.
In 2020, two battleground states, Wisconsin and Arizona, certified their presidential election tallies in favor of Joe Biden, even as President Donald Trump’s legal team continued to dispute the results.
In 2021, Ethan Crumbley, a 15-year-old sophomore, opened fire at a Michigan high school, killing four students and wounding seven other people.
In 2022, House Democrats elected Rep. Hakeem Jeffries to be the first Black American to head a major political party in Congress as long-serving Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her team stepped aside.
Today’s Birthdays: Country singer-recording executive Jimmy Bowen is 86. Movie director Ridley Scott is 86. Screenwriter Geoffrey C. Ward is 83. Movie writer-director Terrence Malick is 80. Rock musician Roger Glover (Deep Purple) is 78. Playwright David Mamet (MA’-meht) is 76. Actor Mandy Patinkin is 71. Musician Shuggie Otis is 70. Country singer Jeannie Kendall is 69. Singer Billy Idol is 68. Historian Michael Beschloss is 68. Rock musician John Ashton (The Psychedelic Furs) is 66. Comedian Colin Mochrie is 66. Former football and baseball player Bo Jackson is 61. Rapper Jalil (Whodini) is 60. Actor-director Ben Stiller is 58. Rock musician Mike Stone is 54. Music producer Steve Aoki is 46. Singer Clay Aiken is 45. Actor Billy Lush is 42. Actor Elisha Cuthbert is 41. Actor Kaley Cuoco (KWOH’-koh) is 38. Model Chrissy Teigen is 38. Actor Christel Khalil is 36. Actor Rebecca Rittenhouse is 35. Actor Adelaide Clemens is 34. World chess champion Magnus Carlsen is 33. Actor Tyla Harris is 23.
Parambrata Chattopadhyay ties the knot with Piya Chakraborty
Popular Indian-Bengali actor-filmmaker Parambrata Chattopadhyay, often referred to as one of the most eligible bachelors in West Bengal and the Pan-Indian television and film industry, finally tied the knot on Monday.
The West Bengal superstar married Piya Chakraborty, the former wife of popular Indian-Bengali singer-songwriter and music director Anupam Roy.
Parambrata shared the news on Monday across his social media profiles with a heartfelt caption, tagging his newlywed lifepartner. The couple has since been showered with love, wishes and blessings online.
Also read: Bidya Sinha Mim ties knot
Born in 1980 in a culturally diverse family in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, Parambrata rose to fame as the fictitious detectives "Topshe" and "Feluda" under the direction of renowned director Satyajit Ray's son Sandip Ray.
He is the nephew of the eminent Indian-Bengali writer and activist Mahasweta Devi and the grandnephew of legendary Indian-Bengali filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak.
Debuted in Bollywood with the 2012 Hindi film "Kahaani" alongside Vidya Balan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Parambrata Chattopadhyay debuted in Bangladeshi films with Fakhrul Arefeen Khan’s directorial debut film "Bhubon Majhi" (2017). He has also been a part of the ensemble cast of the renowned Bangladeshi filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki’s much-anticipated film "Saturday Afternoon" (Shonibar Bikel).
Also read: Tasnia Farin ties the knot with teenage sweetheart
"Hemanter Pakhi" (2003), "Bhalo Theko" (2003), "Baishe Srabon" (2011), "Hemlock Society" (2012), "Chotushkone" (2014), "Kadambari" (2017), "Anukul" (2017), "Pari" (2018), "Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi" (2019), "Dwitiyo Purush" (2020), "Bulbbul" (2020), and "Doctor Bakshi" (2023) are some of his famous works till date.
He made his directorial debut with the 2011 feature film "Jiyo Kaka" (2011) starring Rituparna Sengupta and Rudranil Ghosh. His second directorial venture was "Hawa Bodol" (2013), and under the direction of the Oscar-winning American film- and television-director, film-producer and screenwriter Jeffrey D Brown’s 2014 film "Sold“, Parambrata debuted in Hollywood.
Pia Chakraborty got married to Anupam Roy in December 2015. They got divorced in 2021.
Also read: Popular singer Imran Mahmudul ties the knot
Zonta Clubs of Bangladesh observe International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Observing the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the globally recognized service organization Zonta International began its annual “16 Days of Activism” campaign against gender-based violence on Saturday. All six Zonta Clubs in Bangladesh observed the day.
The campaign will include a number of events and activities aimed at eliminating violence against women and girls in society and advancing women’s rights – beginning on November 25 and running through December 10, International Human Rights Day.
Read: Zonta Clubs of Bangladesh commemorate UN day
Members of all Zonta clubs in Dhaka gathered and held a rally on Saturday at Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed Park in Gulshan to advocate for women’s rights, eliminating child marriage, and raising awareness for gender-equal climate action.
Wearing the thematic orange t-shirts with the Zonta logo and carrying banners and placards in English and Bangla, Zonta Club members held a procession in the park and shared their viewpoints and agenda.
It was followed by a discussion programme held at the Gulshan Ladies Community Club which was addressed by Nilufer Zafarullah, Chair of the Zonta District 25 Area 2 Advocacy Committee; Dr Zareen Delawar Hussain, District 25 Governor-Elect; Farahnaz Qaiyum, Area Director of D-25, Area-2; Zaheda Samdani, Vice Area Director of D-25, Area-2; and Dilruba Ahmed, District 25 Rules and Resolutions Committee Chair.
Talking about the initiatives, Nilufer Zafarullah said, “Zonta District 25 is made up of four neighboring countries: Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Area 2 of this unit is made up of Bangladesh and Nepal, and the same activities are being held in Nepal.”
Describing the mission, vision and activities of the club, District 25 Governor-Elect Dr Zareen Delawar Hussain said, “As of now, Zonta International is globally operating with more than one thousand club units which build a supportive community of more than 0.2 million like-minded professional women around the world. In Bangladesh, we have five clubs in Dhaka and one in Chattogram.”
Read: First Area meeting of Zonta International District-25 held in Chattogram
Pori Moni’s grandfather no more
Dhallywood star Pori Moni’s maternal grandfather Shamsul Haque Gazi died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Dhaka early Friday.
He breathed his last around 2:11 am at the Intensive Care Unit of Evercare Hospital in the capital, Producer Chayanika Chowdhury confirmed in a Facebook post today.
Chayanika wrote: “After giving bath to him (Nanubhai) at Gulshan Azad Mosque at 4am, Pori Moni is on her way to village home Shingkhali in Ikri union of Bhandaria upazila in Pirojpur. He will be laid to rest there next to Pori Moni's grandmother.”
"Shamsul Haque Gazi was a well-educated and big-hearted person. He had a capacity of spreading unequivocal love and humanism throughout his life and we will never forget him. Everyone will pray for Pori and her grandfather,” Chayanika also wrote.
Since losing her parents when she was young, Pori Moni grew up at her grandfather’s place.
Later, the actress lived with her grandfather in Dhaka.
To Gaza from Dhaka’: Concert at Hatirjheel Amphitheater on Friday
Uniting voices against the ongoing brutal attacks in Gaza by Israel, several Bangladeshi artists will perform in a charity concert titled ‘To Gaza from Dhaka’ on Friday in the capital’s Hatirjheel Amphitheater.
The concert is being organized by the platform Artists Against Genocide, known for its recent projects such as the 73 graffiti works by cartoonist Morshed Mishu and team in different parts of Dhaka. The concert will feature performances by a number of leading and popular Bangladeshi musicians.
The line-up includes Maqsood O' dHAKA, Ark, AvoidRafa, Nemesis, Indalo, Meghdol, Shohojia, Karnival, Highway, Hatirpool Sessions, Firoze Jong, Moruvumi, Moonflower, Masha Islam, rapper Shafayat, Aseer Arman, Rezaul Karim Leemon, Black Zang, Muiz Mahfuz, Avishek Bhattacharjee and Ahmed Hasan Sunny. Eminent music director Prince Mahmud and lyricist Latiful Islam Shibli will be featured as special guests at the event alongside the musicians.
Acclaimed musician and actor Ahmed Hasan Sunny, one of the organizers of this charity concert, told UNB that the event is a fundraiser for Gaza, aimed at demanding a ceasefire while offering much-needed assistance to Palestinian civilians dealing with continued struggles due to the current conflict.
Read: Taylor Swift fan dies at Rio concert as fans complain about high temperatures and lack of water
“For years, the innocent civilians in Palestine have been suffering from oppression and now the ongoing genocide in Gaza must be protested from every corner of the world. This concert is a symbolic open letter to Gaza, through which, we — the Bangladeshi artists — hope to send a message of empathy to the civilians in Gaza, informing them that they are not alone in this battle,” Sunny told UNB.
Mentioning that the artists are not taking any money for this charity concert, Sunny informed UNB that all proceeds from ticket sales and donations will go to Gaza through NGOs who are actively working in Gaza such as Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, or the Red Crescent. Due to currency and transaction difficulties, the exact NGO is not yet fixed but will be finalized as soon as possible.
“As you can understand, the biggest roadblock is to send the proceeds to the people in dire need, as funds transfer is being blocked by the oppressors. We contacted the Palestinian ambassador in Dhaka who expressed gratitude for this event and shared the Palestinian flag with us, and we invited him to join us in this concert,” Sunny said.
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The event already created buzz on social media platforms, and many celebrities including Mostafa Sarwar Farooki, Chanchal Chowdhury, and others including the performing musicians are sharing the event with engaging captions, lauding the initiative. “A big shout out to the friends behind the ‘To Gaza From Dhaka’ concert! Artists are essentially political animals!,” Farooki wrote in his Facebook post.
Intending to offer a great musical experience to the audiences, Sunny said that the platform is taking the utmost preparation possible. “We are immensely grateful to our esteemed artists who are performing in this concert and also the celebrities and music lovers who are expressing solidarity, such as the comedy club Stand Up Dhaka which cancelled its upcoming event on November 24 for this event,” Sunny stated.
The event features three levels of tickets with three separate price points: BDT 500, 1000, and 1500. Furthermore, anybody can donate as well as purchase available tickets from the website https://getsetrock.com/, which also displays a live count of the total acquired donation.
Concertgoers can enter the venue from 2:30 pm onwards while the concert will start at 3:30 pm. Additional information is available on the Facebook pages of the event and the organizers.
Coldplay concert in Malaysia can be stopped by organizers if the band misbehaves, government says
Organizers of Wednesday's Coldplay concert in Malaysia can stop the show if the British rock band misbehaves, a minister said as the government rejected Muslim conservatives' calls to cancel the show.
Led by the country's opposition bloc, Muslim conservatives have protested the concert over Coldplay’s support for the LGBTQ+ community. Recently, they also pushed for the concert to be halted in solidarity with Palestinians killed in the Israel-Hamas war.
Communication and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said he doesn't foresee any problem with Coldplay's first concert in Malaysia later in the night. Security has been beefed up for the show that is expected to draw some 75,000 people at a stadium outside Kuala Lumpur.
Read: Taylor Swift fan dies at Rio concert as fans complain about high temperatures and lack of water
“Yes, it's one of the things we have discussed with the organizer,” Fahmi said when asked if a 'kill switch" to cut off power supply will be used.
“The prime minister has also said the band, you know, is very supportive of Palestine. So, we are upbeat about the concert today,” he added.
Malaysia introduced the kill switch measure recently after a controversy sparked by British band The 1975 in Kuala Lumpur in July. The band's lead singer slammed the country’s anti-gay laws and kissed a male bandmate during their performance, sparking a backlash among Muslims and prompted the government to cut short a three-day music festival.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has justified allowing the Coldplay concert, telling Parliament on Tuesday that “Coldplay is actually among the bands that support Palestine." He noted that the previous administration, before he took power in November 2022, had approved the concert. Anwar said pro-Palestinian groups also approached his office in support of the Coldplay concert.
The opposition Islamic party PAS slammed Anwar's stance. While Coldplay supports the Palestinian cause, it also encourages hedonism, said its information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari.
Read: Coke Studio Bangla's second live concert enthrals fans even amidst chaos
“This is not about whether they purely support the Palestinian cause or not but the issue of hedonism culture that they bring to our community,” he said Tuesday in Parliament. PAS, which has expanded its influence following strong Muslim support in the 2022 elections, often protests concerts by international artists that it said were incompatible with Muslim values.
Officials from concert organizer Live Nation Malaysia couldn't be immediately reached for comment. It issued a statement to concert-goers a few days ago, reminding them to be “mindful of local cultures and sensitivities” and refrain from displaying props or items that may cause discomfort to others.
Police have warned the public to refrain from any sort of provocation and inciting unrest at the concert, which is part of Coldplay's Music of the Spheres World Tour.
Coldplay also met with resistance from Muslims when they performed in Indonesia earlier this month. Protesters held rallies right up to the day of its concert, slamming the band as an LGBTQ+ “propagandist” whose stance damages “faith and morals.”
Coldplay is renowned for interlacing its values with its shows, such as the band’s push for environmental sustainability. Lead singer Chris Martin has been known to wear rainbow colors and wave gay pride flags during performances.
Latest Release: Love, Laughter, and South Indian Charm
In a bid to bring joy to audiences, Bongo, the OTT platform, has recently released the Bengali dubbed version of the much-loved South Indian film 'Hello Guru Prema Kosame.'
This heartwarming romantic comedy, originally released in Telugu in 2018, has garnered immense praise since its launch, said a media release on Tuesday.
The film follows the story of Sanju, a young man from a village who, after successfully completing his engineering degree, moves to the city to pursue a job and make his middle-class parents proud.
Finding accommodation at Vishwanath's house, he gradually falls in love with Anupama, Vishwanath's daughter, despite initial reservations.
However, a twist in the tale reveals that Anupama is already engaged to another man, with their wedding just a month away.
The narrative explores the complexities of love, friendship, and life's unexpected turns. Viewers are taken on an emotional rollercoaster as they witness Sanju's journey and his challenges in navigating his feelings for Anupama.
The film, featuring popular South Indian actors such as Ram Pothineni, Anupama Parameswaran, Pranita Subhash, and Prakash Raj, has received a warm welcome from the Bengali audience.
Bongo's senior marketing specialist, Hira Shil, expressed, "This new movie has been well received by our Bongo audience. This movie is doing very well compared to other movies. Even the little clips on Facebook are getting great responses!"
Bongo, committed to providing wholesome entertainment to the people of Bangladesh, said it takes pride in presenting 'Hello Guru Prema Kosame' to its audience.
The movie's success further exemplifies Bongo's dedication to bringing diverse and engaging content to its viewers.
Audiences can now enjoy this captivating romantic-comedy on the Bongo platform, indulging in the delightful performances of the cast and the charming storyline that has captivated hearts across South India.