United News of Bangladesh

Talented film producer Masudul Mahmud Ruhan, known for his collaborations with popular director Vicky Zahed, was found hanging in his East Rayerbazar house in the capital. He was 27. His hanging body was recovered from a mess house in East Rayerbazar of the capital on Wednesday (May 8). The media was informed by a sub-inspector of Hazaribagh police station and the body was recovered from the mess. Ruhan, who was separated from his spouse recently, started living in that East Rayerbazar mess house as he frequently used to travel due to his profession. When his roommate came back to the mess around 11 pm Wednesday he found Ruhan’s body hanging from the ceiling fan and informed police. For the popular OTT platform Chorki, Ruhan produced the critically acclaimed film “Redram,” directed by Vicky Zahed. Their successful collaboration brought a number of well-received web series, including "Ararat," "Champa House," "Shuklapakkha," "The Silence," and “Punorjonmo,” the duo’s most popular fiction work. Artistes and colleagues of Ruhan are expressing their heartfelt grief through social media over the death of this young and talented producer.  

Alia Bhatt is attending her second Met Gala — in a row — but this is her first time wearing a sari on the carpet. The Bollywood superstar wore Prabal Gurung last year, but donned a Sabyasachi design this year. She told the Vogue hosts the on-theme garment took 1,905 man hours and 163 workers to craft.

The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage. Lopez went for silver leaves in a second-skin goddess gown and Zendaya was all vamp and fantasy in a rare double appearance on the steps of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Both were co-chairs of the annual fundraiser, and both received cheers from the crowd of fashion enthusiasts packed behind barriers outside. Lopez (in Schiaparelli) was all va-va-voom in a near-naked gown. She’s got the Met Gala down: It’s her 14th. Zendaya put on her fashion face in peacock hues of blue and green, with a head piece to match and leaf accents. The look was Maison Margiela by John Gallliano. She walked again to close the carpet in black Givenchy Haute Couture gown also by Galliano with a head piece stuffed with flowers by Alexander McQueen. It's been five years since Zendaya last attended the gala. Lopez went with Tiffany & Co. diamonds, including a stunning bird motif necklace with a diamond of over 20 carats at its center. Flowers were everywhere, in line with this year’s theme: “The Garden of Time,” inspired by J.G. Ballard’s 1962 short story of the same name. Mindy Kaling is sure to make the best-dressed lists in sand-colored swirls that towered over her head at the back. No worries about dinner. The back was removable. Her look was by Indian couturier Gaurav Gupta. Usher held a single red rose in a dark and eery black suit and cape, a wide-brim black hat on his head and a black brooch on one lapel. The look was Alexander McQueen by Seán McGirr. FASHION KINGS AND QUEENS ... AND A GOOD WITCH Gigi Hadid brought the drama in a look by the drama king himself, Thom Browne. her white gown was adorned with 2.8 million microbeads with yellow flowers and green thorns. She was high glam in a wavy bob and crimson lips. If there's a queen of the Met Gala besides the evening's mastermind, Anna Wintour, it's Sarah Jessica Parker. The long-time attendee takes each year's theme seriously, researching every detail. This year she was in an Alice in Wonderland look with a lavender overlay and a Philip Treacy topper on her head. The dress was by Richard Quinn. Her long hair tumbled behind her back in beachy waves, a look that built into a beauty trend of the evening. If Parker is a queen, Ayo Edebiri is a gala baby. It was her first one and she showed out in a youthful white look fading into a garden full of colorful flowers at the bottom by Loewe. Serena Williams took metallic gold to another level in a shining one-shoulder statement look. Ariana Grande was all Glinda the Good Witch, making the most of her pale-colored strapless Loewe look with 3D eyelashes at the side of each eye. She arrived with her “Wicked” co-star Cynthia Erivo, dressed in black with pink petals in a darker, edgy look by Thom Browne. Cardi B., who has THE most fun at the Met Gala, struck a pose or three in a statement black gown with a huge tulle train. It was by Windowsen. She paired the look with green jewels and a high black turban. She needed multiple helpers to move her dress up the stairs. CHANNELING SLEEPING BEAUTY AND THE GARDEN Penelope Cruz, meanwhile, went goth in black by Chanel. It had a bustier top and a Sleeping Beauty-like off-shoulder silhouette. There was another Sleeping Beauty-ish guest: Kendall Jenner in a Givenchy look done by Alexander McQueen in 1999. Kendall's sister, Kylie Jenner, was more Old Hollywood than storybook in a chic Oscar de la Renta low-cut strapless look, a white bloom in her clicked-back updo and a train behind. Oddly, older sister Kim Kardashian tightly covered up her gorgeous silver corset look with a leaf motif by Maison Margiela with a lumpy gray sweater.

Marking the occasion of the 75th anniversary of its Faculty of Fine Art, Dhaka University, in collaboration with the Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation (DBF), is hosting a unique exhibition titled ‘Rise of a Nation’ at the Zainul Gallery, Faculty of Fine Art, Dhaka University in the capital. Curated by artist Zihan Karim, the exhibition features the captivating photographs of the 1971 Liberation War by world-renowned Indian photographer Raghu Rai, a member of the esteemed Magnum Photos, who ventured into the war zone in 1971, walking tirelessly alongside freedom fighters (Mukti Bahini) and Indian forces on the battlefield.

Popular science fiction series 'Three-Body Problem' has made its way to Bangladesh's OTT platform, Bongo. The series, which was previously available on Netflix, was released in full in Bengali on Bongo on May 4. However, this is not the Netflix version; it is a Bengali translation of the original Chinese version. 'Three-Body Problem' is a series based on the renowned science fiction thriller by the acclaimed Chinese novelist Liu Cixin. A Chinese adaptation of the book was produced in 2023, followed by a Hollywood version released by Netflix, which gained significant popularity. The version available on Bongo is a Bengali-dubbed adaptation of the original Chinese series. The release of the first episode sparked a wave of responses on social media. Noted writer and blogger Abdullah Ibn Mahmud expressed his appreciation on Facebook, stating, "Three-body problem is one of my favorite series. I have seen the Hollywood version of this series. But I heard that Chinese is better. It is good to see the series in Bangla, which is my own language. Thanks Bongo for bringing this series!” The plot of 'Three-Body Problem' centers around the mysterious suicides of several brilliant scientists. Another scientist and a detective embark on an investigation to uncover the reasons behind these suicides, leading them to a strange virtual reality game and a shocking truth. Bongo's authorities are thrilled about introducing this unique science fiction genre series to their platform. Bongo's Chief Content Officer, Mushfiqur Rahman Manzu, expressed his excitement, saying, “Three-Body Problem is a great series. Moreover, this series is already very popular among the audience. We are delighted to bring such a series to Bengali speakers in its entirety!” New episodes of 'Three-Body Problem' will be available every Saturday and Sunday on the Bongo app and website. This move marks a significant step in making global content more accessible to Bengali speakers.

Offering a selection of original primers alongside captivating artefacts and displays that illuminate the history of Bangla primers, artist Sabyasachi Hazra’s unique exhibition ‘Primer to Press’ has begun at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) on Friday. The exhibition's opening ceremony also marked the launch of the book 'Bornomala: Bangla Alphabet Book Collection', edited by Sabyasachi Hazra.

Coke Studio Bangla has released the second track for its ongoing third season on Friday titled "Ma Lo Ma" featuring the dynamic Pritom Hasan, Shagor Dewan, Arif Dewan and rapper Aly Hasan. The newest song is intended to take the audience on a profound exploration of the journey of life and self-discovery, according to the music platform. Pritom Hasan is the music producer of this brand new track, infusing his twist alongside the duo from the musically acclaimed Dewan family: Shagor Dewan and Arif Dewan, whose ancestor is the original writer of the song "Ma Lo Ma Jhilojhi." The song "Ma Lo Ma" encapsulates the realization that life is a journey where the inevitability of adulting and nostalgia work as two sides of a coin. This song serves as a conversation acknowledging this inevitable shift, using the metaphor of a broken boat symbolizing life and a river symbolizing the world. Adding depth to the song is the infusion of 'Chhaad Petano Gan’, a form of ’Shaari Gaan’ from the folk genre tracing back to the Mughal Era. An urban version of this was found among building masons around the 80's and 90's, who migrated to cities for livelihood and sang these verses while working to construct concrete roofs. The combination of beats from the paddles along with the verses breaks monotony, while creating a festive atmosphere around their work. According to Coke Studio Bangla, "Ma Lo Ma" is more than just a song; it's an experience that resonates with audiences of all ages, reminding them of the beauty of self-acceptance and the journey of growth. Curated and Produced by Shayan Chowdhury Arnob & Pritom Hasan, "Ma Lo Ma"s music is composed and arranged by Pritom while the song is written by Md Khalek Dewan (Another version of the song was penned by Baul Rashid Uddin, named Ma Go Ma). The Rap part is written by Aly Hasan and "Kalir Noyon Jole" is a collected folk song. With Faizan R Ahmad (Buno) as the Chief Sound Engineer, the song features Pritom Hasan (Station, Guitar), Shorfuddin Dewan Sagor (Vocal), Md Arif Dewan (Vocal, Violin), and Aly Hasan (Rap). The 'Chhaad Petano Team' for the song includes Sanda Rani Sarker, Md Sokir Sheikh, Asa Rani, Sima Rani Kormoker, Padma Rani Sarker, and Mukti Rani Sarker, while Jannatul Firdous Akbar, Shanta Islam and Samsan Rayna Ahmed performed as the back vocalists. The song is available across the official YouTube and Spotify channels of Coke Studio Bangla.

A new documentary delves into the life and legacy of the eminent photographer Nasir Ali Mamun, renowned for his unique approach to portrait photography and dubbed the "Poet of the Camera" - and is scheduled to be screened next Friday. Titled "Nasir Ali Mamun: In Praise of Shadows” (Chhayabandana), the 65-minute long documentary is crafted by the British expatriate Bangladeshi filmmaker Makbul Chowdhury. Set to be premiered on May 10 at 4 pm at the National Art Gallery auditorium of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, the documentary spans the extensive career of Mamun, focusing on his contributions to developing portrait photography in Bangladesh. His portraits, often of significant personalities and celebrities, showcase a distinct mastery of light and shadow—a technique he passionately advocates. "I prefer using natural light," Mamun has famously stated, emphasizing the artistic control this element provides. The film explores these themes, portraying the dedication and meditative process that define his artistic practice. Regarding the documentary, director Makbul Chowdhury said: “For the last five years, I have lived with this film - and finally, all the arrangements for showing the film have been completed. This documentary is a detailed work on the life and work of Nasir Ali Mamun, a photographer who captured my interest since I was a teenager. The photographic journey of Nasir Ali Mamun, a creator of his own identity in portrait photography, is a journey of labor, struggle and meditation of a tireless artist. You are all invited to the screening of the film.” Known as one of the pioneering photographers in Bangladesh, Mamun took many portraits of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the early seventies and recorded his rare moments from close up. Right after the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971, Mamun's camera defined portraiture in Bangladesh that eventually ushered in and changed the landscape of portrait photography in the country. Being ‘the poet with the camera’, Mamun has taken some of the most iconic portraits Bangladesh has ever seen. His black and white images display a beautiful yet enigmatic and equivocal coalescence of light and shadow. The screening of the film is open to all.

Shark Tank Bangladesh, the Bangladeshi version of the reality show Shark Tank, made its debut on Friday and was highly anticipated to entertain, impart  knowledge, ignite innovation and investment opportunities across the nation. Viewers can catch the action-packed episodes on Bongo and Deepto TV, every Friday at 10pm. If missed viewers will be able to stream on OTT Platform Bongo anytime anywhere, said a media release. "Shark Tank" offers aspiring entrepreneurs a chance to pitch their groundbreaking business ideas to a panel of seasoned investors, known as "Sharks." With the potential for on-the-spot investments, the stakes are high as contestants vie for the support and expertise of the esteemed Sharks. Since its inception in Japan as "Money Tigers" in 2001, the format has achieved global acclaim, spawning adaptations across continents, from "Dragon's Den" to "Lion's Den." With nearly $1 billion invested by the Sharks themselves, the show has propelled countless businesses to unprecedented success, fostering growth and innovation on a massive scale. Over Tk 1 crore was invested in the premiere episode of "Shark Tank Bangladesh” where four promising entrepreneurs stepped into the spotlight, each showcasing their visionary ideas in front of the Sharks. The Sharks present were Sami Ahmed, Nazim Farhan Chowhdury, Navin Ahmed, Ahmed Ali (Leon) and Golam Murshed. Booktionary: founder Mehedi Hasan Nayon introduced a revolutionary platform that merges the love for books with cutting-edge technology. With "Booktionary," users can buy, sell, and exchange university books seamlessly, ushering in a new era of a book recycling programme for students at universities. Sharks Nazim Farhan Choudhury and Sami Ahmed were quick to recognize its potential, investing Tk 30 lakh for a 15 percent equity stake. Cookoly: female entrepreneur Shayla Sharmin captivated the Sharks with her innovative approach to cooking. With her brand "Cookoly," she offers ready-to-cook mixes made from organic ingredients, free from preservatives and chemicals. The sugar free masala chai mix is the signature product that all tea takers will look to try as she ensures the sweetness through her special mix of ingredients. Impressed by the concept, Sharks Golam Murshed, Nazim Farhan Choudhury, and Ahmed Ali secured a 40 percent equity stake with a Tk 30 lakh investment. EcoCutler: Md. Azizul Haque presented "EcoCutler," a venture dedicated to eco-friendly wood and bamboo cutlery and straws. While the Sharks resonated with the mission, no deal was reached in this round. They are determined to be back in another season with better market traction. Beauty Solutions: Female entrepreneur Naznin Akhtar Dalia from Narayanganj showcased her skincare brand "Beauty Solutions," emphasizing the use of organic ingredients. Her impressive revenue and profitability numbers not only won over Sharks Ghulam Murshed, Sami Ahmed, and Ahmed Ali, who collectively invested Tk 50 lakh for eight percent equity stake, but it was the toughest negotiation on this episode. With each episode promising new innovations and investment opportunities, "Shark Tank Bangladesh" is set to create new ways for entrepreneurs to access capital. Shark Tank Bangladesh has Robi as the "Title Sponsor", Startup Bangladesh as "Powered by Sponsor", Tally Solutions as "Co-Sponsor", Prime Bank as "Banking Partner", Olympic Foodie Instant Noodles as "Snacks Partner", Sunquick as "Beverage Partner", Yellow by Beximco as “Wardrobe Partner”, Kloth Studio as “Style Partner”, Miniso as “Gift Partner”, Holiday Inn as “Hospitality Partner”, Euro Vigil Security Service as “Security Partner”, Raw Exposure as “Photography Partner”, Live2web as “Backstory Partner”, Chows as “Restaurant Partner” and Concito as “PR Partner”. The production of the programme was done by Red Dot Communications.

New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein ’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with “egregious” improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case. “We conclude that the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes," the court's 4-3 decision said. “The remedy for these egregious errors is a new trial.” The state Court of Appeals ruling reopens a painful chapter in America’s reckoning with sexual misconduct by powerful figures — an era that began in 2017 with a flood of allegations against Weinstein. His accusers could again be forced to retell their stories on the witness stand. The court's majority said “it is an abuse of judicial discretion to permit untested allegations of nothing more than bad behavior that destroys a defendant’s character but sheds no light on their credibility as related to the criminal charges lodged against them.” In a stinging dissent, Judge Madeline Singas wrote that the majority was “whitewashing the facts to conform to a he-said/she-said narrative,” and said the Court of Appeals was continuing a “disturbing trend of overturning juries’ guilty verdicts in cases involving sexual violence.” “The majority’s determination perpetuates outdated notions of sexual violence and allows predators to escape accountability,” Singas wrote. Weinstein, 72, has been serving a 23-year sentence in a New York prison following his conviction on charges of criminal sex act for forcibly performing oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and rape in the third degree for an attack on an aspiring actress in 2013. He will remain imprisoned because he was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape and sentenced to 16 years in prison. Weinstein was acquitted in Los Angeles on charges involving one of the women who testified in New York. Weinstein lawyer Arthur Aidala said immediately after the ruling came out: “We all worked very hard and this is a tremendous victory for every criminal defendant in the state of New York.” Lawyers for the women who accused Weinstein in the New York case did not immediately return messages Thursday. Weinstein’s lawyers argued Judge James Burke’s rulings in favor of the prosecution turned the trial into “1-800-GET-HARVEY.” The reversal of Weinstein’s conviction is the second major #MeToo setback in the last two years, after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of a Pennsylvania court decision to throw out Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction. Weinstein’s conviction stood for more than four years, heralded by activists and advocates as a milestone achievement, but dissected just as quickly by his lawyers and, later, the Court of Appeals when it heard arguments on the matter in February. Allegations against Weinstein, the once powerful and feared studio boss behind such Oscar winners as “Pulp Fiction” and “Shakespeare in Love,” ushered in the #MeToo movement. Dozens of women came forward to accuse Weinstein, including famous actresses such as Ashley Judd and Uma Thurman. His New York trial drew intense publicity, with protesters chanting “rapist” outside the courthouse. Weinstein is incarcerated in New York at the Mohawk Correctional Facility, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Albany. He maintains his innocence. He contends any sexual activity was consensual. Aidala argued before the appeals court in February that Burke swayed the trial by allowing three women to testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case and by giving prosecutors permission to confront Weinstein, if he had testified, about his long history of brutish behavior. Aidala argued the extra testimony went beyond the normally allowable details about motive, opportunity, intent or a common scheme or plan, and essentially put Weinstein on trial for crimes he wasn’t charged with. Weinstein wanted to testify, but opted not to because Burke’s ruling would’ve meant answering questions about more than two-dozen alleged acts of misbehavior dating back four decades, Aidala said. They included fighting with his movie producer brother, flipping over a table in anger and snapping at waiters and yelling at his assistants. “We had a defendant who was begging to tell his side of the story. It’s a he said, she said case, and he’s saying ‘that’s not how it happened. Let me tell you how I did it,’” Aidala argued. Instead, the jurors heard evidence of Weinstein’s prior bad behavior that “had nothing to do with truth and veracity. It was all ‘he’s a bad guy.’” Aidala also took issue with Burke’s refusal to remove a juror who had written a novel involving predatory older men, a topic the defense lawyer argued too closely resembled the issues in Weinstein’s case. A lawyer for the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which prosecuted the case, argued that the judge‘s rulings were proper and that the extra evidence and testimony he allowed was important to provide jurors context about Weinstein’s behavior and the way he interacted with women. “Defendant’s argument was that they had a consensual and loving relationship both before and after the charged incidents,” Appellate Chief Steven Wu argued, referring to one of the women Weinstein was charged with assaulting. The additional testimony “just rebutted that characterization completely.” Wu said Weinstein’s acquittal on the most serious charges — two counts of predatory sexual assault and a first-degree rape charge involving actor Annabella Sciorra’s allegations of a mid-1990s rape — showed jurors were paying attention and they were not confused or overwhelmed by the additional testimony. The Associated Press does not generally identify people alleging sexual assault unless they consent to be named; Sciorra has spoken publicly about her allegations. The Court of Appeals agreed last year to take Weinstein’s case after an intermediate appeals court upheld his conviction. Prior to their ruling, judges on the lower appellate court had raised doubts about Burke’s conduct during oral arguments. One observed that Burke had let prosecutors pile on with “incredibly prejudicial testimony” from additional witnesses. Burke’s term expired at the end of 2022. He was not reappointed and is no longer a judge. In appealing, Weinstein’s lawyers sought a new trial, but only for the criminal sexual act charge. They argued the rape charge could not be retried because it involves alleged conduct outside the statute of limitations.