United News of Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has organised an art camp as part of its Brand Bangladesh initiative, in addition to its core focus to promote the apparel industry. Sixty-two renowned artists, including Monirul Islam, Shahabuddin Ahmed, Hashem Khan, Abul Barq Alvi, Abdus Shakoor Shah, Abdul Mannan, Mohammad Eunus, Jamal Ahmed, Shishir Bhattacharjee, Farida Zaman, Hamiduzzaman Khan, Naima Haque, Rokeya Sultana, Dhali Al Mamoon, Shahid Kabir, Ahmed Shamsuddoha, Hossain Sheikh Afzal, Mohammad Iqbal, Mostafizul Haque, Mostafa Zaman Mithu, Afrozaa Jamil Konka, and Sohana Shahreen joined the "Made in Bangladesh with Pride Art Camp 2023" in Dhaka Sunday. BGMEA President Faruque Hassan inaugurated the camp which was organised by the organisation in collaboration with Arcadia Arts Gallery.

The Amar Ekushey Book Fair's traditional dates got shifted for the past two editions due to Covid-19. With virus-era norms like social distancing now discarded this year's fair is set to return to its usual start date of February 1, and barring some unforeseen pandemic-level event, last the entire month at Bangla Academy's sprawling premises, along with the adjacent Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital.  For the first time since 2020, the prime minister will inaugurate the fair in person. She will also distribute the Bangla Academy Literary Award 2022 among the recipients at the inaugural ceremony and unveil seven new books. The ceremony will be chaired by Bangla Academy President novelist Selina Hossain. State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Abul Monsur and Bangla Academy Director General poet Nurul Huda will also be present. Nine hundred and one units have been allocated to 601 organisations for this year's book fair, compared to 776 units to 534 organisations last year. One hundred and sixty-five units have been allocated to 112 organisations on the Bangla Academy premises and 736 units to 489 organisations at Suhrawardy Udyan. "Considering the suggestions and demands of the publishers and the fairgoers, we have made some changes in stall and pavilion arrangement as well as the entry and exit points. The previous cluster method is being changed and all the 489 stalls inside Suhrawardi Udyan have been set up in a way so that a visitor can see the whole fairground from any corner," Amar Ekushey Book Fair Committee Secretary KM Mujahidul Islam said at the press conference. "The stalls of police, Ansar and fire service have been set up in the spot near the Institution of Engineers. Two confined zones have also been dedicated for food courts; there will be no unorganised, open or street food shops." Due to publishers' requests regarding their commercial concerns, seven pavilions and 182 stalls have been moved from the Institution of Engineers area to the main fairground venue. Also, the main entrance to the Suhrawardi Udyan area of the fair has been changed, and the temple gate of the Suhrawardi Udyan will now be the main entrance, which is located opposite the Bangla Academy. Also, there will be three more entrances and exits in the Teacher-Student Center (TSC), Doyel Chattar and the Institution of Engineers sections. The traditional "Shishu Prohor" segment will be back this year after being shelved for two years in a row due to Covid. And the fair authority will organise this dedicated segment for child fairgoers every Friday and Saturday from 11am to 1pm. The "Shishu Chattar" has also been shifted from its previous place to the temple area this year. Seminars will be held at the main stage of the fair venue at 4pm every day, followed by cultural events. There will be three information centres and a media centre at the Suhrawardi Udyan fairground for the fairgoers. The fair venue was first extended to Suhrawardy Udyan in 2013 to accommodate more space besides its fixed venue at the Bangla Academy. The entire fair zone will be closely monitored by more than 300 CCTV cameras. The Chittaranjan Saha Memorial Award will be distributed to the best publishers. At the same time, the Munir Chowdhury Memorial Award will be conferred upon three organisations for publishing the best books in the 2022 fair. Also, the Rokanuzzaman Khan Dadabhai Memorial Award will be given to the writer of the best children's book. The Artist Qayyum Chowdhury Memorial Award will be given to the best-designed stall at the fair. The fairgoers can move through the four entrances and four exit points from 3pm to 9pm on regular days and 11am to 9pm on the holidays. However, they can enter the fair on International Mother Language Day at 8am, and all entrance points will be closed after 8.30pm. The month-long book fair is arranged every year in February commemorating the sacrifices of people who laid down their lives on February 21, 1952, for establishing Bangla as the mother tongue. The traditional Amar Ekushey Book Fair began informally in 1972 on the Bangla Academy premises; however, the academy officially took the responsibility of arranging the fair regularly, every year in 1978. It was then named Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela and a guideline was laid out in this regard in 1984. Read more: Longest-running Amar Ekushey Book Fair ends; Tk52.50 crore books sold

Newly appointed Ambassador of France to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy made a special visit to Cosmos Atelier 71 and Gallery Cosmos, the reputed printmaking studio and artistic space of Cosmos Foundation, on Thursday. She explored the ongoing exclusive intaglio process softground and stencil workshop by internationally acclaimed artist and art teacher, Professor Rokeya Sultana, titled “Impression of Rokeya's” at the Cosmos Centre. Read more: Printmaking workshop ‘Impression of Rokeya's’ underway at Cosmos Atelier 71 Tehmina Enayet, Director of Cosmos Atelier 71 and Gallery Cosmos, and Rokeya Sultana greeted Ambassador Masdupuy and exchanged their artistic visions, while Gallery Cosmos Artistic Director Sourav Chowdhury guided the studio and gallery tour while sharing the artistic initiatives and ongoing workshop to the ambassador. "We are overwhelmed to have the honorable French Ambassador Marie Masdupuy among us, here in our Cosmos Atelier 71 and Gallery Cosmos. France is the pioneering nation in the world of arts and also has been one of our great diplomatic allies, and the ambassador’s maiden visit in our art space will continue strengthening the remarkable bond and friendship between the two nations," Tehmina Enayet told UNB. Professor Rokeya Sultana said, "It is our great honor that Ambassador Masdupuy visited this exclusive printmaking workshop, and I along with all of our participating artists are enthralled with her presence and enthusiasm regarding our works." Read more: Impression of Rokeya's: Intaglio process workshop at Cosmos Atelier71 from Monday Inaugurated on January 23, the workshop is featuring young and prominent artists from home and beyond – Asmita Alam Shammy, Roosevelt Benjamin, Chhobi Zulfiqar, Rifat Jahan Kanta, Farzana Rahman Bobby, Mohammad Rezwanur Rahman, Bacchu Miah Arif, Kamruzzoha, SM Ehsan and Indian artist Sukla Poddar. The workshop also features four guest artists – renowned painter Afrozaa Jamil Konka, eminent photojournalist-artist Nasir Ali Mamun, veteran artist and freedom fighter Biren Shome and journalist-artist Zahangir Alom – alongside participating guest artists Sam Jamil Julian, Rumessa Mailloux and Sourav Chowdhury.

Showcasing the captivating techniques and storytelling behind the art of printmaking, an exclusive printmaking workshop titled “Impression of Rokeya's” by eminent art maestro Professor Rokeya Sultana is currently underway at Cosmos Atelier 71 in Dhaka’s Malibagh. Inaugurated on Monday, January 23, on the birthday of the renowned artist and art educator, the workshop is featuring young and prominent Bangladeshi artists Asmita Alam Shammy, Roosevelt Benjamin, Chhobi Zulfiqar, Rifat Jahan Kanta, Farzana Rahman Bobby, Mohammad Rezwanur Rahman, Bacchu Miah Arif, Kamruzzoha, SM Ehsan and Indian artist Sukla Poddar. The exclusive intaglio process-softground and stencil workshop by Professor Rokeya Sultana is also featuring four guest artists - renowned painter Afrozaa Jamil Konka, eminent photojournalist-artist Nasir Ali Mamun, veteran artist and freedom fighter Biren Shome and journalist-artist Zahangir Alom, alongside participating guest artists Sam Jamil Julian, Rumessa Mailloux and Sourav Chowdhury. Read more: Impression of Rokeya's: Intaglio process workshop at Cosmos Atelier71 from Monday

Cosmos Atelier71, the reputed printmaking studio of Cosmos Foundation, is set to host a 4-day exclusive Intaglio process Softground and Stencil Workshop by internationally acclaimed art maestro Professor Rokeya Sultana on Monday titled Impression of Rokeya's at the Cosmos Centre in the capital. The workshop will continue from January 23-26 at the Cosmos Atelier71.   Supported by Gallery Cosmos, the artistic wing of the Cosmos Foundation, the workshop will feature eminent Bangladeshi artists - Shahabuddin Ahmed, Monirul Islam, Biren Shome, Nasir Ali Mamun and Anisuzzaman Anis, alongside 10 participating artists from home and beyond - Asmita Alam Shammi, Roosevelt Benjamin, Chhobi Zulfiqar, Rifat Jahan Kanta, Farzana Rahman Bobby, Mohammad Rezwanur Rahman, Bacchu Miah Arif, Kamruzzoha, Sukla Poddar and SM Ehsan. The artists will work on the Intaglio Process, Soft ground and Stencil media in this exclusive printmaking workshop. Read: Episodes of her Gaze: Maksuda Iqbal Nipa's resplendent art collective launched at DLF “Every artist is going to finish two printmaking artworks during the workshop; later on, we are going to display these artworks for a daylong exhibition and sale in the Baridhara Garden Gallery on January 28,” Cosmos Atelier71 and Gallery Cosmos Executive Director Sourav Chowdhury told UNB.   Currently a Professor of Printmaking at the Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Art, Rokeya Sultana was born in Chittagong in 1958. After graduating from the Bangladesh College of Arts and Crafts in 1980, she received a master’s degree in printmaking from Visva Bharati, Santiniketan, in 1983. She has exhibited in Poland, Germany, Morocco, Oman (Bait Al Zubair Museum), France, Iran, Egypt, Turkey, Taiwan, Nepal, Korea, Jordan, Denmark, Pakistan, India, USA—Denver, Wyoming, NY (Art Student League)—and Japan, among other countries. Sultana is the recipient of numerous national and international scholarships and awards, including a prestigious Fullbright grant, which supported her nine-month artist’s residency at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is an influential figure in Dhaka, Santiniketan and Sydney art scenes. Read: Festivals like Pitha Utsab needs to be spread all over Bangladesh: KM Khalid Notable among the artist’s awards are the Purchase Award, Somerstown Gallery, 4th Biennial, NY, USA (1992), Grand Prize in the 3rd Bharat Bhavan Print Biennale (1995), Bengal Foundation Award in the 14th National Art Exhibition (1999), Honourable Mention in the 9th Asian Art Biennale (1999), Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Award in the National Art Exhibition (2002). In 2003, Sultana availed a French government scholarship at L’Atelier Le Couriere et Frelaut in Paris, and in 2017 she became an Artist in Residence at Open Print Studio, Toronto Canada. Her works are in the collections of the Bangladesh National Museum; Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy; President’s House, Bangladesh; Bengal Foundation, Dhaka; 1971 Genocide Torture Archives & Museum, Khulna, Bangladesh; National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts; Bangladesh Aga Khan Development Network; Blacktown Art Center, Sydney; University of Nebraska; Archives of SGC International at Zuckerman Museum of Art, Georgia; Academy of Art University, San Francisco; The Museum of International Contemporary Graphic, Fredrikstad, Norway; Universal Graphic Museum, Cairo; Jorasanko Thakur Bari, Kolkata; Young One Collection, Korea; among others.

The 21st Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) concluded on Sunday, awarding Seyyed Morteza Fatemi-directed Iranian film ‘Bi-Madar’ (Motherless) as the Best Film this year. As for the Bangladeshi films, the 2022 blockbuster ‘Hawa’ received the Audience Award in the Cinema of the World section; while Fakhrul Arefeen Khan-directed film ‘JK 1971’ got the Special Audience Award, Kazi Arefin Ahmed-directed short film Could You Be Free Yet Locked In won the Best Short Film and Khandaker Sumon-directed ‘Saatao’ (Memories of Gloomy Monsoons) won the Best Film Award by FIPRESCI Jury in the Bangladesh Panorama category. A total of 18 awards were given in different categories at the closing ceremony of the 21st Dhaka International Film Festival, organised by the Rainbow Film Society at the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum in the capital. The closing ceremony was joined by ruling Awami League praesidium member Matia Chowdhury, the DIFF chief patron and state minister for foreign affairs Md Shahriar Alam, Bangladesh National Museum director general Kamruzzaman, information secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker, DIFF chairperson Kishwar Kamal and the DIFF festival director Ahmed Muztaba Zamal, among others. In the Asian Cinema Competition Section, the Best Director award went to All Ghavitan for the film ‘Zendegi va Zendegi’ (Life & Life), the Best Actor went to Ikkei Watanabe for Naoki Maeda-directed film ‘Nakodo-Matchmakers’ (Marriage Counselor), and the Best Actress went to Ketaki Narayan for Krishnendu Kalesh-directed film ‘Prappeda’ (Hawk’s Muffin). The award for Best Script Writer went to Anik Dutta for ‘Aparajito’ (The Undefeated) and the Best Cinematography award went to Artyom Anisimov for Evgeny Grigorev-directed Russian film ‘Podelniki’ (the Riot). As for the Women Filmmakers Section, Maria Douza-directed Greek film ‘Akouse Me’ (Listen) received the award for Best Feature Film while the Best Documentary Award went to Sri Lanka’s Anomaa Rajakaruna-directed ‘Our Mother, Grandmother, Prime Minister: Sirimavo’ and the Best Director award went to Katharina Woll for the German film ‘Alle Wollen Geliebt Werden’ (Everybody Wants To Be Loved). The Spiritual Films Section recognized this year’s submission with two special awards: the Best Documentary award went to Galina Evtushenko and Anna Evtushenko (Russia) directed ‘Mahatma Haffkine’ while the award for Best Fiction Film went to Kamrul Ahsan Lenin-directed film Ghore Fera (Home Coming). Besides, the Best Children Film Badal Rahman Award went to Petr Oukropec-directed film ‘Mazel a tajemství lesa’ (Martin and the Magical Forest), a joint production of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Germany. From January 15, the 21st DIFF featured a total of 252 films from 71 countries, including Bangladesh, India, China, Turkey, Iran, the United States, Sri Lanka and others. This year, Bangladesh was represented through 81 films including 12 full-length feature films and 69 short and independent films. Films were screened at the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib auditorium (main auditorium) and Poet Sufia Kamal auditorium of the Bangladesh National Museum, National Art Gallery auditorium, Nandan Theatre open ground and Jatiya Sangeet and Nrityakala auditorium of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), Star Cineplex (Bashundhara City) and Alliance Francaise de Dhaka (Dhanmondi) in the capital. The 21st DIFF also featured the Ninth Dhaka International Conference on Women in Cinema 2023 at the Samson Lounge, Dhaka Club, from January 15 to 16 and West Meets East: Screenplay Lab from January 15 to 18 at Alliance Francaise de Dhaka. This year, the festival hosted a day-long master class for the first time on January 21 at Bangladesh National Museum. Rainbow Film Society has been organising Dhaka International Film Festival since 1992 with the theme Better Film, Better Audience, Better Society. The next edition of DIFF will take place between January 20-28 in 2024, according to the festival director Ahmed Muztaba Zamal.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid on Thursday said Jatiya Pitha Utsab (National Rice Cake Festival) is an original and integral concept representing Bengali culture. And festivals like this should be spread all over the country, he added. "We plan to hold this festival at the district level in the future, and the upazila level as well." Read more: Art exhibition, Pitha Utsab held at FSA The state minister was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 10-day Sixteenth Jatiya Pitha Utsab organised by the National Pitha Utsab Udjapan Parishad and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) at the BSA premises in the capital. Liaquat Ali Lucky, director general of the BSA and convener of the 16th National Pitha Utsav Udjapan Parishad 1429, presided over the inauguration ceremony. Dance maestro Amanul Haque was also present. M Hamid, cultural personality and president of the Jatiya Pitha Utsab Udjapan Parishad, joined the event as the main speaker. Read more: Pitha sales surge as winter nears Fifty stalls are showcasing more than 200 pithas (traditional cakes) at the 16th Jatiya Pitha Utsab, and the festival is open to all from 3pm to 9pm till January 28.

The 10th edition of Dhaka Lit Fest, which took place over four days featuring a wide range of the world's top authors, filmmakers, singers, and artists, has been concluded at the Bangla Academy with a reaffirmation of its dedication to promoting Bangladeshi literature, culture, and arts. The festival concluded on Sunday with an enthralling closing ceremony, featuring performances by Coke Studio Bangla artistes Animes Roy, Ritu Raj, Pantha Kanai, Boga Taleb, Momotaz, Rubayat Rehman and its other artistes. With ‘Nasek Nasek’, the debut track of Coke Studio in Bangladesh, the 10th edition of the literary festival bids its adieu. Read more: Episodes of her Gaze: Maksuda Iqbal Nipa's resplendent art collective launched at DLF The formal closing act was conducted at the Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad (AKSB) auditorium before that, and it started with a dynamic dance and recital performance by Jatrik named "Women Rise" about women's emancipation. The adversity and persistence against women in the Indian subcontinent were portrayed through the performance of classical and modern dance forms, choreographed by Naila Azad Nupur with recitals by DLF director-producer Sadaf Saaz and Nupur herself. Booker Prize-winning Indian author Gitanjalee Shree, eminent Somalian novelist Nuruddin Farah, Dhaka Tribune editor Zafar Sobhan, City Bank managing director and CEO Mashrur Arefin, and Dhaka Lit Fest director and producer Sadaf Saaz spoke at the closing ceremony, sharing their remarks bidding adieus and expressing their gratitude to everyone.

Responding to the demand of avid art lovers, the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) has extended the 19th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh 2022 for one week. The biennale will now welcome its visitors till January 13. The closing ceremony of the exhibition was held at BSA's National Theatre Hall Saturday. Presided over by BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky, the event was joined by Speaker of the Parliament Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury as chief guest. State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Abul Monsur, and eminent artists Shahabuddin Ahmed and Monirul Islam were also present. Many enthusiastic art admirers and visitors were seen on the BSA premises yesterday on the Asian Art Biennale's last day. Both Khalid and Liaquat said they received multiple requests for an extension of the exhibition, but had to announce its conclusion. However, the next editions of this flagship event of the BSA will be held for two months, they added. "Despite the fact that the 19th Asian Art Biennale officially drew to a close, we decided to extend it for another week due to the demand of our art enthusiasts. The galleries will be accessible to the public until January 13. However, it will not be extended further, as we have other exciting projects in our schedule," BSA Public Relations Officer Hasan Mahmud told UNB Sunday. On December 8, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the month-long art extravaganza online. The exhibition is showcasing 649 pieces of art created by 493 artists from 114 nations, including 149 Bangladeshi artists.

Research-based art exhibition "River Delta" has begun at La Galerie of the Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD). River and Delta Research Center Chairman Mohammad Azaz attended the opening ceremony as the special guest Friday. River Delta is the first phase of an ongoing five-year study on Bangladesh's rivers. The exhibition is curated by Juel A Rob.  Artists Apu Raj Bongshi, Mohosin Kabir, Shimul Datta, Najmun Nahar Keya, Promotesh Das Pulak and Mohammad Hasanur Rahman are participating in the exhibition. Since Bangladesh is a riverine country, a large part of its food chain, trade, communication, and livelihood are river centric. Many communities are directly connected to rivers. The ebb and flow of the rivers weave the stories of many communities, including fishermen, river gipsies, washermen, salt cultivators, sailors, and shrimpers. However, after the passage of 51 years, Bangladesh has started to take precautions regarding the proper maintenance of water resources, said the AFD. So, it is very important to create awareness at all levels of society, to have constructive discussions, discharge civic and state responsibilities, and to prepare for the next step by studying different types of case studies, it added. "In that case, it is very important to understand the internal or international political context. Many issues, including complexities within the country, river encroachment; protection of river environment, aquatic life and fauna diversity, international power politics, protection of potable water bodies, ocean and river governance, are involved here," the AFD said.