United News of Bangladesh

Platforms, the newly launched artistic discussion forum dedicated to celebrating and promoting the vibrant art scene of Bangladesh, has recently introduced its ‘Canvas Conversations’ series. To ignite Bangladesh's artistic spirit on a global stage, the Platforms’ Canvas Conversations series is a unique opportunity for art enthusiasts, scholars, and the wider community to gain profound insights into the evolution of Bengali Art, according to a press release. ‘Rage and Hope’: 75th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights celebrated at Drik The maiden edition of this series showcased eminent art luminaries as the discussants, including Ekushey Padak-winning eminent artist and Emeritus Professor at Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Art Rafiqun Nabi; Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Art Dean Professor Nisar Hossain; Dhaka University Bangla Department Chair Dr Syed Azizul Haque, and former Editor at Depart Magazine and artist-art critique Mustafa Zaman. The session was moderated by Rayana Hossain, Founder of ISHO and Platforms. ‘Gallery on Wheels’: Cosmos Foundation felicitates Rickshaw Painters as the medium enlisted as UNESCO heritage In part 1 of the Canvas Conversations, Platforms spotlighted the struggles of the first generation of Bangladeshi artists, exploring the unique development of their art language and identifying pivotal artworks that defined early Bengali Art. Nisar Hossain, artist and Dean of the Faculty of Fine Art at Dhaka University said, “Preserving the artistic legacy of our first-generation artists is important for understanding the roots of Bengali Art. Platforms’ Canvas Conversations offer a valuable platform for discussing and acknowledging their struggles and contributions.” ‘Victory’: Gallery Cosmos marks Victory Day with day-long art event with eminent painter-freedom fighter Biren Shome and child artists Rayana Hossain, Founder, of ISHO and Platforms, said, "The Canvas Conversations series fosters meaningful dialogues that delve into the rich history of Bengali Art. It's an invitation for art enthusiasts, scholars, and the wider community to join us for an enriching exploration of art, history, and cultural innovation." The full-length maiden conversation can be watched at https://fb.watch/o-IaKlXINZ/.

Marking the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh and Drik Picture Library jointly organised a photo exhibition titled ‘Rage and Hope’ that began on December 14 and concluded on Monday at 8 pm at Drik Gallery in the capital.    The UDHR, which marked its 75th anniversary this year on December 10th, enshrines the inalienable rights of human beings, regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinions, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status. Also read: ‘Gallery on Wheels’: Cosmos Foundation felicitates Rickshaw Painters as the medium enlisted as UNESCO heritage As a celebration of freedom of expression, the photo exhibition provided a platform for photographers to showcase their work from across Bangladesh, visually exploring expressions of the fight for the rights of women, indigenous communities, the LGBTIQ community, students, and the rights of climate-displaced communities amongst others.  Photographer and Managing Director of Drik Dr Shahidul Alam has worked on rights issues, with photography as the primary medium for many years and has selected a breathtaking collection of past and contemporary pictures from across the country.

Honoring a seasoned group of rickshaw painters in Dhaka whose works have made rickshaw and rickshaw paintings recognized as the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity  earlier this month, Cosmos Foundation, through its artistic wing Gallery Cosmos, organised an event titled ‘Gallery on Wheels’ at the Private Museum, Baridhara in the capital on Thursday. Hosted by Enayetullah Khan, Chairman of Cosmos Foundation, the event was joined by diplomats and officials from different embassies including the Ambassador of the Philippines to Bangladesh Leo Tito L Ausan Jr, President of the Cosmos Foundation Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, and elites of the diplomatic and international community, civil society, cultural and intellectual personalities attended the event. Dhaka's rickshaws and rickshaw paintings enlisted as UNESCO heritage Local and foreign dignitaries and maestro rickshaw painters including Mohammad Hanif Pappu, Syed Ahmed Hossain, Mohammad Soleman. S A Noor Ali and Md Monir Hossain were also present at the event. “For this remarkable inclusion in the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, I convey my heartiest congratulations to the rickshaw painters and the Cosmos Foundation for hosting this event. This year, we hosted a unique event titled ‘Adorn-a-Rickshaw’ as part of our traditional Kalayaan (independence) parade in Dhaka, which was a tribute to the iconic vehicle of the country and also to showcase the richness and colors of our Filipino festivals,” the Philippines ambassador said at the event. Reviving the Rickshaw Art through the Lens of Gender-Diverse Communities Mentioning the overwhelming response that the event received, and traditional festivals around the world such as the ‘Ati Atihan’ festival in the Philippines, Ambassador Leo said that Bangladesh should also have a rickshaw-themed annual festival to celebrate this achievement. Cosmos Foundation President Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said, “When we grew up, we have seen rickshaw with vibrant, meaningful paintings behind it – and always realised that there are significant artistic values behind these works. I would like to congratulate Enayetullah Khan and Cosmos for discerning this, and being able to bring it out and present in front of us tonight. This art will continue far beyond our lifespan, because rickshaw and its associated artwork is not so much the object or form of transport; it is the unique and yet unmistakable bond between Dhaka, its people and its rickshaws. It is the essence of that relationship, that is inherently never tangible that UNESCO have recognized and we celebrate here today.” ‘Inspiration’: artist Jamil Khan’s solo exhibition begins at Gallery Cosmos Enayetullah Khan lauded the achievement at the ceremony, stating, “December is a month of victory for us, and this year we achieved another victory as our rickshaw painting got inscribed by UNESCO as it designated the medium as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. Through this recognition, the whole world came to know how creative, vibrant, and colorful this genre of art is.” “Rickshaw first came in Dhaka city in around 1938, and the vehicle was first introduced in Japan when they were going through an energy crisis. When I was a child riding a rickshaw, I used to look ahead and see the painting on the back of the moving rickshaws - often saw the advertisements of the movies, or a place of interest in the world, or the pictures of different animals and picturesque, scenic beauties, or sometimes, it’s just a quote of wisdom!”  Mentioning broader plans to promote rickshaw painting across the world,  Khan said, “I have travelled to at least 80 countries in the world, but I have never seen a nation as creative as ours. Today, we notice numerous rickshaw painting motifs in our living spaces, closets, and so on. We want everyone in the world to know about our culture.” “That is why, we aim to organise an annual rickshaw painting festival to help raise the profile of the nation. For this, we will conduct comprehensive research through our Cosmos Foundation. We would like to conceptualise the findings through the publication of books, short documentaries and other creative works on rickshaw painting in the future. Through our Cosmos Foundation and its artistic wings like Gallery Cosmos, this is how we always promote Bangladesh.” The artists showcased several of their rickshaw paintings, posters, and rickshaw painting-themed products, mesmerising the guests through the representation of their majestic and vibrant artistic visions. “Even though we were not less than stars in this genre when every film poster had to be custom-made with rickshaw paint motifs, we started losing our momentums with the advancement of digital media. There was a time when people even used to mock us because we started channelling art in different decorative mediums.”

To mark the celebration of the country’s 53rd Victory Day, Gallery Cosmos, the reputed artistic wing of the Cosmos Foundation, has hosted a delightful day-long art event titled ‘Victory’ with eminent artist and freedom fighter Biren Shome and a group of future master painters at the Gallery Cosmos, Cosmos Centre in the capital. The event on Tuesday was hosted as a tribute to the country's glorious victory in the 1971 Liberation War, as the nation is set to celebrate its 53rd Victory Day this year. Bangladesh remembers December with reverence and pride. The country earned its historic victory over Pakistani oppressors on December 16, 1971 following nine months of war fought at the call of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Gallery Cosmos set to host art event on Liberation War on Tuesday

Gallery Cosmos is set to host a daylong event that will feature freedom fighter and eminent artist Biren Shome, who will collaborate with a group of future master artists to craft a compelling collection on Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971. Eminent artist Rafiqun Nabi gets showered with love on 80th birthdayThe event will take place at Cosmos Center at Malibagh in Dhaka on Tuesday (Dec 12) from 3:30 pm to 7 pm.Biren Shome will be leading a group of talented emerging painters in bringing to life the significance of Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War. Irish writer Paul Lynch wins Booker Prize with dystopian novel 'Prophet Song'

Tuesday marked the 80th birthday of Ekushey Padak winning eminent Bangladeshi cartoonist, painter and Emeritus Professor at the Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Art, Rafiqun Nabi. Celebrating the birthday of the revered artist, popularly known as ‘Ranabi’ and the creator of the popular cartoon character ‘Tokai’ - the Faculty of Fine Arts initiated a special exhibition and a felicitation ceremony on Tuesday. The exhibition of cartoons, covers and posters drawn by the artist was inaugurated at the Zainul Gallery of the faculty on Tuesday. Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr ASM Maksud Kamal who inaugurated the exhibition as the chief guest. A felicitation ceremony comprising a discussion session and cultural performances was held at Bakultala of the Faculty of Fine Arts which was joined by prominent artists, cultural institutions, art admirers and well-wishers of the eminent artist. The ceremony was chaired by popular thespian, cultural personality and former Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor. Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, emeritus Professor and eminent artist Hashem Khan, emeritus Professor Nazrul Islam, former Bangladesh Bank Governor and honorary Professor of the Department of Development Studies at Dhaka University Dr Atiur Rahman, art maestro and educator Professor Mustafa Monowar, Faculty of Fine Art Dean Professor Nisar Hossain, dramatist Ramendu Majumder and others. “Prof Rafiqun Nabi is a valuable asset not only to Dhaka University but also to the entire country. Through his distinctive works of art, the artist has transcended time and place, transforming himself from an individual to an institution. His painting portrays not just Bangladesh, but also the inconsistency-lawlessness, good and bad, of several countries across the world,” DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr ASM Maksud Kamal said at the event, wishing good health, prosperity and long life to the artist on his birth anniversary. Reminiscing his moments with ‘Ranabi’ during the turbulent period of the Liberation War in 1971, Asaduzzaman Noor said that Rafiqun Nabi was among the catalysts of making handmade posters containing revolutionary messages against the oppressors, before becoming one of the most revered art educators in the country. After the discussion, several personalities and institutions namely Bangladesh National Museum, Gallery Cosmos, Daily Prothom Alo, Bengal Foundation, Engineer Moinul Abedin on behalf of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin's family, Narayanganj Fine Arts Institute, Shanto Mariam University of Creative Technology, Durjoy Foundation, Abinta Gallery of Fine Arts, Art Bangla Foundation, Bangladesh Television, Chapainawabganj District Association, Khelaghar, Bangladesh Institute of Architects and others felicitated the revered artists with flowers. Popular musical troop Joler Gaan and other prominent cultural units including Chhayanat, Udichi, Aranyak, Karak, Panchabhaskar, and Shanto Mariam University then performed enthralling music, poetry recitation, drama, and dance at the event. Professor Rafiqun Nabi was born on November 28, 1943, in the Chapainawabganj district of the then-Indian subcontinent during the British regime. He completed his Bachelor's and Master's at the East Pakistan College of Arts and Crafts (now the Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Art), where he was a direct student of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin and Quamrul Hassan. From 1973–1976, he studied printmaking at the Athens School of Fine Arts under the Greek Government's postgraduate scholarship. Starting his career as a professional cartoonist in 1963 for Weekly Purbodesh, Nabi served as a faculty member of the DU Faculty of Fine Art from 1964 to 2010. His iconic character ‘Tokai’ first appeared in the anniversary issue of Weekly Bichitra in 1977. For his contribution to the country’s art, Rafiqun Nabi was awarded the Ekushey Padak in 1993.

Irish writer Paul Lynch won the Booker Prize for fiction on Sunday with what judges called a “soul-shattering” novel about a woman’s struggle to protect her family as Ireland collapses into totalitarianism and war. “Prophet Song,” set in a dystopian fictional version of Dublin, was awarded the 50,000-pound ($63,000) literary prize at a ceremony in London. Canadian writer Esi Edugyan, who chaired the judging panel, said the book is “a triumph of emotional storytelling, bracing and brave” in which Lynch “pulls off feats of language that are stunning to witness.” Lynch, 46, had been the bookies’ favorite to win the prestigious prize, which usually brings a big boost in sales. His book beat five other finalists from Ireland, the U.K., the U.S. and Canada, chosen from 163 novels submitted by publishers. “This was not an easy book to write,” Lynch said after being handed the Booker trophy. “The rational part of me believed I was dooming my career by writing this novel, though I had to write the book anyway. We do not have a choice in such matters.” Lynch has called “Prophet Song,” his fifth novel, an attempt at “radical empathy” that tries to plunge readers into the experience of living in a collapsing society. Read: Writers from 4 continents up for International Booker Prize “I was trying to see into the modern chaos,” he told the Booker website. “The unrest in Western democracies. The problem of Syria — the implosion of an entire nation, the scale of its refugee crisis and the West’s indifference. … I wanted to deepen the reader’s immersion to such a degree that by the end of the book, they would not just know, but feel this problem for themselves.” The five prize judges met to pick the winner on Saturday, less than 48 hours after far-right violence erupted in Dublin following a stabbing attack on a group of children. Edugyan said that immediate events didn’t directly influence the choice of winner. Lynch said he was “astonished” by the riots “and at the same time I recognized the truth that this kind of energy is always there under the surface.” He said “Prophet Song” — written over four years starting in 2018 — “is a counterfactual novel. It’s not a prophetic statement.” “I wrote the book to articulate the message that the things that are happening in this book are occurring timelessly throughout the ages and maybe we need to deepen our own responses to that," he told reporters. Read: It's a tie: Atwood and Evaristo share fiction's Booker Prize The other finalists were Irish writer Paul Murray’s “The Bee Sting;” American novelist Paul Harding’s “This Other Eden;” Canadian author Sarah Bernstein’s “Study for Obedience;” U.S. writer Jonathan Escoffery’s “If I Survive You;” and British author Chetna Maroo’s “Western Lane.” Edugyan said the choice of winner wasn't unanimous, but the six-hour judges’ meeting wasn't acrimonious. “We all ultimately felt that this was the book that we wanted to present to the world and that this was truly a masterful work of fiction,” she said. Founded in 1969, the Booker Prize is open to English-language novels from any country published in the U.K. and Ireland. and has a reputation for transforming writers’ careers. Previous winners include Ian McEwan, Margaret Atwood, Salman Rushdie and Hilary Mantel. Four Irish novelists and one from Northern Ireland have previously won the prize. “It is with immense pleasure that I bring the Booker home to Ireland,” Lynch said. Asked what he planned to do with the prize money, he said it would help him make payments on his tracker mortgage, which have soared along with inflation. Read more: Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood on Booker Prize list Lynch received his trophy from last year’s winner, Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka, during a ceremony at Old Billingsgate, a grand former Victorian fish market in central London. The evening included a speech from Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman who was jailed in Tehran for almost six years until 2022 on allegations of plotting the overthrow of Iran’s government — a charge that she, her supporters and rights groups denied. She talked about the books that sustained her in prison, recalling how inmates ran an underground library and circulated copies of Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” set in an oppressive American theocracy. “Books helped me to take refuge into the world of others when I was incapable of making one of my own,” Zaghari-Ratcliffe said. “They salvaged me by being one of the very few tools I had, together with imagination, to escape the Evin (prison) walls without physically moving.”

After massive backlash over AR Rahman’s interpretation of Bangladesh’s National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam’s song "Karar Oi Louho Kopat" in the latest Bollywood war film “Pippa”, the makers have issued an apology on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter). The Raja Krishna Menon-directed film, starring Ishaan Khatter, Mrunal Thakur, Priyanshu Painyuli, Soni Razdan and others, was released on November 10 on Amazon Prime Video. The film features battle between India and Pakistan in then East Pakistan during the 1971 Liberation War. Produced by RSVP Movies and Roy Kapur Films, the film features a remake of the Nazrul song "Karar Oi Louho Kopat". The remake version has been composed by Oscar winning-music composer AR Rahman and features Indian singers Rahul Dutta, Tirtha Bhattacharjee, Pijush Das, Shrayee Paul, Shalini Mukherjee and Dilasa Chowdhury. After the release of the song, Nazrul exponents and admirers along with general audiences in both Bangladesh and India expressed massive dissatisfaction over the remake. Read: “Leelabati Nag: The Rebel” premiered at Liberation War Museum In response to that, the film’s makers stated: “We understand the emotional attachment that audiences may have to the original composition, and while all art is inherently subjective, if our interpretation has hurt sentiments or caused unintended distress, we offer our sincere apologies.” The statement notes that the producers, director and music composer of the film “Pippa” wish to clarify that their rendition of the song is a sincere artistic interpretation, embarked upon only after securing the necessary adaptation rights from the estate of the Late Kazi Nazrul Islam. According to the statement, they approached the making of this song by faithfully following both the letter and the spirit of the license agreement for the lyrics, as duly signed by the late Kalyani Kazi and witnessed by Anirban Kazi. “Our intent was to pay homage to the cultural significance of the song while adhering to the terms set forth in our agreement, which permitted us to use the lyrics with a new composition,” the statement claims. Read: Something Like An Autobiography: Real Story or Just a Film? Earlier on Saturday, several of the country’s eminent Nazrul exponents shared their official statements against the “distortion” of the song at a press conference held at the Kabi Nazrul Institute in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi. General Secretary of Bangladesh Nazrul Sangeet Sangstha (BNSS) Khairul Anam Shakil, Kazi Nazrul Islam’s granddaughter Mistee Kazi, Nazrul exponent Sadya Afreen Mallick, veteran Nazrul singer Shaheen Samad, singer Bulbul Islam and others were present at the press conference. According to the prominent Indian newspaper The Times of India, Kalyani Kazi’s agreement to the makers mentioned that she was "represented" to the production house as the "sole surviving legal heir" and "all rights, title and interest in the literary work are owned and vests" on her. It also stated that she was "authorized to grant the licence". "We came to know about the agreement through the media. Legally, I am not sure if Kalyani Kazi could ignore all of us and enter into an agreement saying she is the only heir," Mistee Kazi told The Times of India. Read: First-ever Arka Fashion Week concludes in style

Monday marks the 75th birth anniversary of legendary writer, author, lyricist, educator, screenwriter, playwright and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed, often regarded as one of the best writers in Bengali literature after Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam. The celebrated litterateur was born on November 13, 1948 at Kutubpur, Netrakona. Humayun Ahmed’s 11th death anniversary being observed nationwide Credited with revitalizing Bengali literature and is best known for his iconic fictional characters such as ‘Himu’, ‘Misir Ali’, ‘Baker Bhai’ and others, as well as for his ‘magic-realism’ based storytelling, Humayun Ahmed marked his breakthrough in the Bengali canon with his debut novel Nondito Noroke (1972). He then wrote over 200 fiction and non-fiction books, all of which were bestsellers in Bangladesh and are still popular among his readers. Remembering Humayun Ahmed on his 74th birth anniversary Unanimously regarded as the bestseller author at the Ekushey Book Fairs during the 1990s and 2000s, the majestic litterateur received Ekushey Padak, Bangla Academy Award, Lekhak Shibir Award, Shishu Academy Award, Michael Madhusudan Padak, Bachsas Award and more, for his outstanding contributions to the Bengali culture and entertainment sphere. As a successful content-maker in television, Ahmed debuted with his drama 'Prothom Prohor' (1983) for Bangladesh Television (BTV). His successful journey in television continued with popular drama serials 'Ei Shob Din Ratri', 'Bohubrihi', 'Ayomoy', 'Nokkhotrer Raat', 'Aaj Robibar' and most notably, 'Kothao Keu Nei' for the character of ‘Baker Bhai’ played by eminent actor Asaduzzaman Noor. Remembering Humayun Ahmed on his 10th death anniversary Humayun Ahmed also explored success as a filmmaker in the early 1990s and went on to make a total of eight films in his filmmaking career, each based on his own novels. Two of his films, 'Sjyamol Chhaya' (2004) and 'Ghetuputra Komola' (2012) were the official Bangladeshi submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in their respective releasing years. He received seven Bangladesh National Film Awards in different categories for the films Shonkhonil Karagar' (as screenwriter), 'Aguner Poroshmoni', 'Daruchini Dwip' and 'Ghetuputra Komola'. Commemorating his life and legacy, family members and different organisations along with his admirers are observing Humayun Ahmed’s birth anniversary today. Humayun Ahmed’s widow and cultural personality Meher Afroz Shaon, alongside their sons Nishad Humayun and Ninith Humayun, are also scheduled to take part in various activities in Nuhash Polli, Gazipur. However, due to the countrywide blockade, a noted fan group of the eminent writer known as Himu Paribahan which has been observing his birth anniversary for many years, had to cancel its scheduled yearly journey at the writer’s grave in Nuhash Polli. Among other events, private television station Channel I will arrange its annual 'Humayun Mela' which will be broadcast live from Channel I Chetna Chattar today at 3:05 PM. The channel will also broadcast Humayun Ahmed's film 'Noy Number Bipod Sanket' at 5 pm and eminent director Salahuddin Lavlu's fiction drama "Ami Humayun Ahmed hotey Chai" at 9:30 pm. EXIM Bank-Anyadin Humayun Ahmed Literary Award 2023 conferred Meanwhile, the EXIM Bank-Anyadin Humayun Ahmed Literary Award 2023 was presented on Saturday among the recipients, marking the eve of the 75th birth anniversary of Humayun Ahmed at Bangla Academy’s Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad Auditorium on Saturday. Eminent litterateur and journalist Imdadul Haq Milan received the award this year for his literary contribution to the country’s literature arena, while Mahbub Mayukh Rishad was awarded in the Young Litterateur Category which is awarded to under 40-year-old writers. Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar was present as chief guest at the ceremony, while Anyadin Editor Mazharul Islam, EXIM Bank Managing Director & CEO Mohammad Feroz Hossain, Humayun Ahmed’s brother and eminent academician-writer Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal and Meher Afroz Shaon spoke at the event, presided over by the EXIM Bank-Anyadin Humayun Ahmed Literary Award jury board President and eminent academician Syed Manzoorul Islam. Since 2015, the ceremony has been held annually on the day before Humayun Ahmed's birth anniversary. However, this year the award ceremony was held two days earlier due to the ongoing political unrest, according to the organizers.

Singapore-based Bangladeshi artist Jamil Khan’s solo exhibition titled ‘Inspiration’ was inaugurated on Saturday, November 11, at the Garden Gallery, Gallery Cosmos, in the capital’s Baridhara. The exhibition parallels the human journey, showcasing around 40 magnificent artworks by the multitalented artist which were created in Singapore and Dhaka. Using sketching on pencil, Acrylic, and oil paint, Jamil elevates the commonplace to a realm of vibrant expression. His vivid artworks become vessels for tales of connection, intimacy and raw emotion, offering the art admirers with a fusion of artistry and reality. The inauguration ceremony of the exhibition on Saturday was joined by distinguished guests alongside family, friends and art admirers of artist Jamil Khan, who was born in one of the culturally significant families in Bangladesh, known for cordially patronising the country’s diverse arts and talented artists.