United News of Bangladesh

Italian authorities on Wednesday seized 21 artworks allegedly by Salvador Dalí, suspecting them to be forgeries, following a tip-off from the Spanish Surrealist’s foundation regarding irregularities in the pieces. The artworks were part of the exhibition “Salvador Dalí, tra arte e mito” (Salvador Dalí, between art and myth), which was displayed in Rome earlier this year and recently opened at Palazzo Tarasconi in Parma. Italy’s Carabinieri art squad said it received a report from the Fundaciòn Gala – Salvador Dalí while the exhibition was in Rome, highlighting possible anomalies in some works. The foundation, established by Dalí in 1983, aims to “promote, foster, disseminate, enhance, and defend Dalí’s world worldwide,” according to its website. On Wednesday, acting on a judge’s warrant, police seized 21 pieces from the Parma museum, including tapestries, drawings, and engravings. Authorities emphasized that the investigation is ongoing. Dalí, known for his surreal and whimsical creations, is one of the most frequently forged artists, alongside Pablo Picasso and Amadeo Modigliani, according to ArtNews.

This fall, the Van Gogh Museum is reuniting portraits of the Roulin family—models for Vincent van Gogh during his time in Arles, France—for a special exhibition honoring the deep connection between the artist and the family who befriended him during a lonely period of his life. The exhibition, titled "Van Gogh and the Roulins. Together Again at Last," brings together artworks from across the globe, depicting postman Joseph Roulin, his wife, their two sons, and infant daughter. Among the highlights is a portrait of Roulin in his postal uniform, sitting in a willow-wood armchair native to the Provence region. Originally shown at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the exhibition now arrives in Amsterdam with an added surprise—the very armchair from Van Gogh’s studio, featured in the painting, has been discovered in the museum’s own collection. It was deemed too fragile to travel to Boston, making its debut in this Amsterdam showing. “We found the chair in storage—it had never been exhibited before,” said museum director Emilie Gordenker. “It's amazing what turns up when you delve deeper into a subject like the Roulin family. It’s a rediscovery of our own collection.” Between July 1888 and April 1889, Van Gogh created 26 portraits of the Roulin family, 14 of which are featured in the exhibition. These are displayed alongside works by Van Gogh’s contemporary Paul Gauguin and Dutch masters such as Rembrandt and Frans Hals, whose art heavily influenced him. “Many see the Arles period as the peak of Van Gogh’s career,” said Gordenker. “Whether or not you agree, it was certainly a turning point—his full artistic potential began to shine.” A life-size reconstruction of Van Gogh’s iconic yellow house in Arles has been created within the museum, representing the space where he lived and worked. It was there that Van Gogh formed a bond with Roulin, who was more than a model—he became a supportive friend. In a letter to his brother Theo, Van Gogh described Roulin as having a fatherly kindness. Co-curator Nienke Bakker emphasized how vital this period was to Van Gogh's creative development. “He said painting people brought out the best in him and made him feel connected to humanity,” she explained. The armchair, passed down through Van Gogh’s family after he left Arles, now sits beside the Boston portrait in the exhibition. “It’s moving to see not just the painting, but the actual chair Roulin sat in,” Bakker said. “It’s a simple, humble piece of furniture, but deeply meaningful.” The exhibition opens Friday and will run through January 11.

Faruq Mahfuz Anam James, affectionately called "guru" by his fans, turned 61 on Thursday. He spent the last four decades of his life as a dominant figure in Bangladesh’s band music scene. The National Award-winning musician is regarded as one of the subcontinent’s most iconic rock singers, whose career has inspired generations of fans both in Bangladesh and abroad. Born in 1964 in Naogaon, Rajshahi, James was raised in Chattogram. His family did not initially support his pursuit of music, prompting him to leave home in 1976. He began singing live at Aziz Boarding in Pahartali, Chattogram. In 1977, James formed the band Feelings as lead vocalist and guitarist, later renaming it Nagar Baul, a name that has since become synonymous with the musician himself. James released the band’s first album, Station Road, in 1987. Over the years, he has produced many hit songs, including Taray Taray Rotiye Debo, Maa, Bangladesh, Pagla Hawaa, Dushtu Chheler Dol, Guru Ghor Banaila Ki Diya, and Mirabai, which solidified his status as a rock icon. Many of his songs were adapted from poems. Rock icon James thrilled by record crowd in Saudi capital, promises return Alongside contemporaries LRB and ARK, James formed what came to be known as the “Big Three of Bangladeshi Rock” in the 1990s, captivating audiences with his unique psychedelic rock style and stage presence. In addition to his achievements in rock music, James has worked as a playback singer in Dhallywood, earning the Bangladesh National Film Award for the Best Male Playback Singer for Desha: The Leader (2014) and Swatta (2017). He also ventured into Bollywood, debuting in Anurag Basu’s Gangster (2006) and later contributing to Woh Lamhe (2006), Life… in a Metro (2007), and Warning (2013). Despite numerous opportunities to expand his career internationally, James chose to return to Bangladesh to continue his work as a musician in his home country. As a solo artist, he has released eight albums: Anannya (1989), Palabe Kothay (1995), Dukhini Dukkho Korona (1997), Thik Ache Bondhu (1999), Ami Tomaderi Lok (2003), Janata Express (2005), Toofan (2006), and Kaal Jamuna (2009). He has also collaborated extensively with renowned lyricists, composers, and musicians across Bangladesh’s music industry. Beyond performing, James has established himself as a versatile creative professional, working as a photographer and media entrepreneur. He is the founder and chairman of Red Dot Entertainment, a prominent production house in Bangladesh. On his 61st birthday, fans, fellow musicians, and admirers from across the country and abroad took to social media to share photos, concert memories, and heartfelt tributes celebrating James’s life and career. Global Harmony: Bangladeshi rock legend James set to perform in Riyadh Friday Even after six decades of life and over 40 years of music, Nagarbaul James continues to inspire young musicians and entertain audiences, cementing his enduring legacy as a pioneer of Bangladeshi rock music.

The two-day Sharadiya Cultural Festival-2025, organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) for the first time, concluded on Wednesday evening at the Academy’s Nandanmancha through a colourful cultural event. The closing ceremony was attended by Sheikh Rezauddin Ahmed (poet Rezauddin Stalin), Director General of BSA; Tanzim Ibn Wahab, Director General of Bangladesh National Museum; Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Abul Faiz Md Alauddin Khan; Joint Secretary Md Harun-or-Rashid; Secretary of Shilpakala Academy Mohammad Wares Hossain; representatives from the embassies of Italy, Indonesia, Latvia, Switzerland and Russia, officials from different ministries and organisations, leaders of socio-cultural and religious groups, and officials of the Academy. The cultural segment of the programme began with dhak-dhol performance by 50 artistes. Spandan Dance Troupe then presented 'Mangalik Nritya', choreographed by Anik Bose. Artiste Anima Roy performed several solo songs including "Amra Milechi Aaj Mayer Dake," "Oi Ason Tole Matir Pore" and "Ebar Tor Mora Gange Baan Esechhe," while Debolina Sur Dola rendered "Mangal Deep Jele," "Tare Dhori Dhori," "Hrid Majhare Rakhbo Chhere Debo Na" and "Gauri Elo Dekhe Ja Lo." 'Moha Jadu': Habib Wahid debuts on Coke Studio Bangla with cross-cultural fusion

October 2, also celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti, has become a recurring pop-culture reference for fans of Ajay Devgn’s Drishyam, the Hindi adaptation of Mohanlal’s Malayalam blockbuster, thanks to a clever plot twist in the 2015 film. In Drishyam, Vijay Salgaonkar (Ajay Devgn), a school dropout-turned-businessman in Goa, lives a peaceful life with his wife Nandini (Shriya Saran) and their two daughters. The story takes a dramatic turn when the family becomes involved in the disappearance of Sam, the son of Inspector-General Meera Deshmukh (Tabu). To protect his family, Vijay fabricates a detailed alibi tied to October 2. When questioned, his elder daughter Anju (Ishita Dutta) claims that the family traveled to Panaji to attend a satsang at Swami Chinmayanand’s ashram, had pav bhaji for lunch, stayed overnight, and returned on October 3. The family supports the story with bus tickets, movie stubs, and restaurant bills, rehearsing it to perfection. Alia Bhatt skips questions on exes in Kajol–Twinkle Khanna’s talk show The alibi, referenced repeatedly throughout the film, turned October 2 into a cinematic shorthand for secrecy and clever plotting, sparking a decade-long meme trend on social media. Producer Kumar Mangat Pathak celebrated the film’s 10th anniversary on X, writing: “A decade later, and we’re still asking… 2nd October ko kya hua tha?” Fans continue to recall the day each year, cementing it as a playful pop-culture moment in Indian cinema. Source: NDTV 

The two-day 'Sharadiya Cultural Festival 2025' began on Tuesday evening at the open-air stage of Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital, under the initiative of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and management of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA). The inaugural programme started at 7:15 pm, followed by the staging of the traditional Jatra pala 'Mahishasur Mardini, Devi Durga' at 7:45 pm. The play was written by Ujjal Kumar Bepari and performed by Mata Majjulika Religious Theatre Group from Pirojpur. The opening session was presided over by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Director General Sheikh Rezauddin Ahmed, popularly known as poet Rezauddin Stalin. Key remarks were made by Md Harun-or-Rashid, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Ramesh Dutta, Convener of the Bangladesh Puja Celebration Front, and Gazi Belayet, President of the Bangladesh Jatra Shilpi Sangstha. The welcome address was delivered by Deepak Kumar Goswami, Director of BSA’s Theatre and Film Department. Despite afternoon rainfall, a lively audience gathered at Suhrawardy Udyan to enjoy the performance of the traditional Jatra. In his speech, BSA DG Sheikh Rezauddin Ahmed said the festival is a reflection of Bangladesh’s inclusive spirit. “On Maha Ashtami, as we stage ‘Mahishasur Mardini, Devi Durga’, we envision a harmonious, non-communal Bangladesh free of divisions. We dream of a society where no one will dare ask whether you are Hindu, Muslim or Christian, because we will all stand together as one,” he said, adding that this year marks the first time such a Durga Puja festival is being organized under the ministry’s initiative. The Jatra featured performances by Ujjal Kumar Bepari, Ranjit Halder, Rebati Ranjan Majumder, Pramath Ranjan Gomosta, Probir Bepari, Sanjoy Biswas, Sudeb Mondal, Himangshu Howlader, Amal Halder, Manik Boral, Bimal Baidya, Dipak Howlader, Sourav Halder, Md Selim, Nirmal Chandra Dey, Goutam Das, Khokan Biswas (Nurhimlal Biswas), Mukti Chakraborty, Janaki Roy, Shimu Debnath, Md Habib, Rahim Mia, Md Robiul, Bijon Kanti Howlader, Jyoti Roy and others. Home Adviser urges to observe Durga Puja preserving sanctity

Actors Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan are set to appear as guests in the second episode of Amazon Prime’s new chat show Two Much with Kajol and Twinkle Khanna. A teaser of the episode, released recently, has drawn attention online as Alia Bhatt avoided a question related to her former relationships. Teaser highlightsIn the teaser, Kajol remarks that being friends with an ex is a “red flag.” When asked to react, Alia replied, “Can we please move on?” Alia was previously rumoured to be in a relationship with Sidharth Malhotra after they made their Bollywood debut together in Student of the Year (2012) alongside Varun Dhawan. However, neither Alia nor Sidharth publicly confirmed the relationship. Varun Dhawan also added humour to the episode, joking about Twinkle Khanna’s 2000 film Mela. “I didn’t like the film, but I kept on rewatching it,” he quipped. When asked which film he meant, Varun replied, “Mela.” The film, directed by Dharmesh Darshan, starred Aamir Khan, Twinkle Khanna, and Faisal Khan. Recently, Akshay Kumar revealed that Twinkle agreed to marry him only if Mela flopped. Paris Fashion Week 2025: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan greets crowd with namaste About the showThe opening episode of Two Much featured Aamir Khan and Salman Khan, who shared stories about their personal and professional journeys in an engaging conversation with the hosts. Nikhil Madhok, Director and Head of Originals at Prime Video India, said the show is designed to bring a fresh take on celebrity conversations. “Kajol and Twinkle will combine wit, feistiness, and insight in unfiltered, unapologetic conversations,” he said, adding that the collaboration with Banijay Asia aims to deliver something “bold, fresh, and unforgettable” for audiences. Source: NDTV 

Spotify founder Daniel Ek is stepping down as CEO to become executive chairman, a move that caused the company’s shares to drop in premarket trading on Tuesday. The Stockholm-based streaming giant announced that Ek will be succeeded by two longtime lieutenants as co-CEOs: Chief Product and Technology Officer Gustav Söderström and Chief Business Officer Alex Norström. Both currently serve as co-presidents and will officially take on their new roles on Jan. 1, reporting directly to Ek. Spotify said in a statement that the change “formalizes” how the company has operated since 2023, with Söderström and Norström already leading strategic planning and day-to-day operations. Ek added that he had previously “handed over much of the daily management and strategic direction” to them. “This change simply matches titles to how we already operate,” he said. Since its founding nearly 20 years ago, Ek has helped Spotify transform the music industry and shape modern streaming. The platform now boasts over 700 million subscribers and offers more than 100 million songs, 7 million podcasts, and 350,000 audiobooks. Spotify shares, which had doubled over the past year, fell more than 3% in premarket trading following the announcement.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, often hailed as the original ramp queen, turned heads at Paris Fashion Week 2025, where she walked for L'Oréal Paris. Representing the brand at the “Liberté, Égalité, Sororité” showcase—part of the Spring-Summer 2026 Women’s Ready-to-Wear collection—Aishwarya made a powerful impression in a uniquely styled Indian sherwani designed by Manish Malhotra. The iconic actress redefined elegance with an androgynous twist, wearing a deep blue sherwani paired with her signature ruby red lips and flowing hair. She graced the ramp at the Hotel de Ville in Paris on September 29, exuding confidence and grace. Her warm namaste, followed by waves and flying kisses, won over the crowd and lit up social media, with fans flooding comment sections with praise like "Always the best" and "So beautiful." Designer's Vision Designer Manish Malhotra shared insights into the thought behind the look. He described the outfit as a modern reinterpretation of the traditional Indian sherwani, blending masculine tailoring with feminine elegance. According to him, the sherwani symbolizes both strength and softness—crafted to be bold yet sensuous. One of the standout features was the 10-inch diamond-embroidered cuffs, which Malhotra described as “part armor, part ornament,” representing both emotional strength and vulnerability. Off the Ramp: A Heartwarming Moment A day before the event, Aishwarya made headlines for a touching interaction with a fan outside her hotel in Paris. A viral video captured the actress comforting an emotional fan by wiping her tears before posing for a photo, further endearing herself to admirers online. Aishwarya’s Recent Work Aishwarya was last seen in Mani Ratnam’s epic period film Ponniyin Selvan II, where she starred alongside a powerhouse cast including Vikram, Karthi, Trisha Krishnan, Jayaram, and others. Her performance received widespread acclaim as part of the historical saga.   Source; NDTV      

Singer and actress Selena Gomez has married music producer and songwriter Benny Blanco, sharing the news on Instagram with a photo of the couple kissing and embracing on a lawn. Blanco, 37, responded to Gomez’s post Saturday, writing, “My wife in real life.” Gomez, 33, wore a white halter-style bridal gown adorned with floral details, while Blanco donned a custom Ralph Lauren tuxedo with a bow tie. Preparations for the wedding, including a large outdoor tent, had been spotted earlier in the Santa Barbara area by paparazzi. The couple’s friends and professional associates congratulated them online. The official Instagram account for Gomez’s Hulu series Only Murders in the Building posted, “Our Mabel is MARRIED,” while her cosmetics brand Rare Beauty wrote: “So happy for you two.” Celebrities including Camila Cabello and Amy Schumer also extended their best wishes. Blanco and Gomez met around a decade ago and became engaged late last year. They previously collaborated on the 2019 track I Can’t Get Enough, alongside J Balvin and Tainy. Blanco is known for co-writing and producing hits such as Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream, Britney Spears’ Circus, and Maroon 5’s Moves Like Jagger. Gomez, who began her career as a child on Barney and Friends, rose to fame as a teen star on Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place. Her recent projects include hit songs like Calm Down, Good for You, Same Old Love and Come & Get It, as well as her role alongside Martin Short and Steve Martin in Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, earning her multiple award nominations. The singer and actress has a vast social media following, with 417 million Instagram followers, making her the most-followed woman on the platform.