United News of Bangladesh

Iranian filmmaker Kamal Kachooeian- directed film ‘Adapt’ bagged the ‘Best Film’ award at the 8th Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival concluded on Tuesday at Star Cineplex, Shimanto Shambhar, Dhanmondi in the capital. Turkish film ‘Scent’ by Sezgin Yuzay won the CinemaScope Best Film Award while Bangladeshi film ‘The Ghost’ by Fahim Shiyam won the ULAB Young Filmmaker Award.  A total of 153 films were submitted from 31 countries worldwide at the 8th edition of this flagship festival from the Department of Media Studies and Journalism (MSJ), University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB). Read: Best War Movies of 2021: Military Action Films Portraying Battlefields Worldwide The closing ceremony was joined by internationally acclaimed Bangladeshi filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki as the chief guest. ULAB Vice-Chancellor Professor Imran Rahman was present as the special guest. "As the current generation of filmmakers, you are far ahead of us. The beauty of shooting films using a mobile phone is that you have the same privileges as a filmmaker while sitting overseas that we did not have in our day. Among you, I see a lot of promising faces who will take over the industry in a few years with quality content," Farooki said at the event.

According to American novelist and short-story writer George R.R. Martin, "A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one." But, in this day and age, it seems like more people are spending their time glued to their screens rather than reading books. Whether they are watching TV, scrolling through social media, or playing video games, It is hard to find someone who is not constantly plugged in. What a lot of people don't realize is that this can be really bad for them. Not only does it lead to obesity and other health problems, but it also has negative effects on our mental health. One of the best things you can do for your physical and mental health is develop the habit of reading books. 10 Benefits of Reading books for Physical and Mental Health There are many positive sides of reading habits. Reading has been shown to improve physical health, mental health, and creativity. It can also help you learn new things and stay informed about current events. Let’s find out why someone should read every single day! Reduce stress levels Reading can be a great way to relieve stress and tension. When we read, our minds are engaged in the story or information being presented, which can help to distract us from any stressful thoughts or situations we may be facing. In fact, one study found that reading every day was able to reduce stress levels by 68%. Read Amar Ekushey Book Fair to continue until March 17: State Minister Improve cognitive function Reading has been shown to improve cognitive function and memory, especially in older adults. This is likely due to the fact that reading requires focus and concentration, which helps to keep our minds active and sharp. Reading provides stimulation for the brain, which can help keep it active and healthy. Additionally, reading can help enhance vocabulary as well as skills in reading comprehension. Reading also helps to improve problem-solving skills and creativity. Helping you sleep better Most people know that reading is a good way to pass the time, but many don't know that reading can also help you sleep better. Reading before bed can be a great way to help you fall asleep and get a good night's sleep. The calming and relaxing effects of reading can help to calm the mind and body, leading to a more restful sleep. Read Smritydahan: Tanvir Tareq's book on rock legend Ayub Bachchu published According to the sleep council, 39% of the people who regularly read before going to sleep tend to sleep very well. The study also found that reading helped participants achieve a deeper sleep. So if you're having trouble sleeping, try picking up a book before bed. Prevent Alzheimer's disease Studies have shown that reading can help to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. This is likely due to the fact that reading helps to keep our minds active and engaged, which can help to protect against cognitive decline as we age. Moreover, reading provides the brain with the necessary nutrients and oxygen to keep the brain healthy. Read Best Online Book Selling Websites in Bangladesh in 2021 Makes you happier Reading can be a great way to boost your mood and happiness levels. According to one study, reading for just six minutes was able to increase happiness among the readers. This is likely because reading can help distract us from negative thoughts and emotions and promote feelings of relaxation and contentment. Enhance creativity Reading can also help to boost our creativity levels. This is likely because reading exposes us to new and interesting ideas, which can help inspire us and stimulate our creativity. It allows us to think of new ideas and create new concepts. However, it does not come naturally to us, and we need to read a lot to increase our creativity level. Read Mujib: Bangladesh’s first graphic novel on real life super hero hits book fair Increasing focus and concentration Reading can also help to improve our focus and concentration. This is likely due to the fact that reading requires us to pay attention to the words on the page and not be distracted by outside stimuli. To increase focus and concentration, we need to make sure that we are not having the same thoughts over and over again. We need to change our thoughts so that we can concentrate on a specific topic for a longer period of time. And reading can train your brain to focus on something for a long time. Improve your communication skills One of the best ways to improve your communication skills is by reading. Reading various types of texts can help you develop your ability to interpret, analyze, discuss and write about what you read. The more you read in the form of fiction, nonfiction, and literary texts, the more practice and ideas you will have. Reading literature that is well written may give you a better foundation for thinking critically about language in your own work as well. Read 20% instant cashback on Nagad payment in Nagad-Rokomari Online Book Fair 2022 Improve physical health Reading can also have a number of positive effects on our physical health. For example, reading can help to improve our heart health, increase our energy levels, and boost our immune system. Reading improves physical health by providing exercise for the brain. The act of study involves selective attention, which makes it easier to focus on one task. This is because the action of reading forces our minds to work in order to multi-task and improve focus. Providing a sense of community Finally, reading can also help to build a sense of community and connectedness. It is because reading encourages us to connect with others through shared interests and discussion. Readers can learn about different perspectives on their interests and find like-minded individuals that they may have never known existed before. In those ways, reading is truly an incredible tool for social development. Read Othoba.com launches online book fair Final Words The habit of reading books is beneficial for the people of all ages. Whether you are looking to relieve stress, improve cognitive function, sleep better, prevent Alzheimer's disease, or simply boost your happiness levels, reading can be a great way to achieve these goals. Also, to become a successful person, you will need to read a lot to gain knowledge. For example, Barack Obama, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Warren Buffett, Oprah Winfrey, all of them are voracious readers. So, what are you waiting for? Pick up a book today. 

With the slogan "New Generation, New tools, New Communication," the 8th Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) raised its curtain in the capital Saturday. This marks the return of the festival in front of live audiences after 2020, as the seventh edition was held in a hybrid format in 2021 due to Covid-19. Md Nizamul Kabir, director general of Bangladesh Film Archive, joined the inauguration ceremony of the four-day festival as the chief guest and Sara Afreen, jury chair of this year's DIMFF independent category, as special guest. Nizamul Kabir said: "From having over a thousand cinema halls in the 90s to less than a hundred in the entire country now, the cinema industry of Bangladesh is in dire straits. The industry needs the brilliance of young filmmakers, and this event is such a wonderful occasion to make young minds passionate about filmmaking." "Cinema can be a potential medium for underprivileged sections of the society to narrate their stories. The purpose of DIMFF is to encourage mobile phones-based movie productions to facilitate the storytelling process beyond the traditional norms," Mohammed Shazzad Hossain, assistant professor of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh's (ULAB) media studies and journalism department and advisor of DIMFF, said. "Despite many challenging circumstances, we have successfully managed to organise this year's DIMFF and sincerely hope our audience will like this collective effort," DIMFF's first female festival director Zerin Tasnim Tahsin said. Read: Noted artists celebrate Spring at ‘The Passion of Drawing’ by Gallery Cosmos After the inaugural session, eight films were screened today. Some filmmakers joined the ceremony virtually from different countries. Filmmakers whose work was screened are Beraat Gokkus from France, Marcelo Lagreze from Chile, Chris Overton and Dimple Devadas from the UK, Zeke Farrow from the US, Kamal Kachooeian from Iran; Maria Lívia Goes, Mateus Castilha, Natalia Belasalma from Brazil, and Mohamed El Sammad from Egypt. "The Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival is an amazing platform for featuring stories that otherwise would not have seen the light of day," Dr Jude William Genilo, head of ULAB's media studies and journalism department, had said before the event ended. The inauguration ceremony of DIMFF concluded with the vote of thanks by Abdul Kabil Khan, assistant professor ULAB's media studies and journalism department and advisor of DIMFF. On February 27 and 28, the festival will take place at the Shimanto Shambar branch of Star Cineplex, Dhanmondi. A masterclass on documentary filmmaking with East London-based digital creator, documentary filmmaker and YouTuber Andy Burgess will be held Monday at 4pm. The festival is showcasing 26 films – selected from 153 entries – from 31 countries, under three categories.

Celebrating the scenic beauty of colourful Spring in the glorious month of International Mother Language Day, Gallery Cosmos organized an exclusive daylong art event titled ’The Passion of Drawing’ on Friday at the Garden Gallery, Baridhara in the capital. Seven leading and promising artists of the country including Biren Shome, Kuhu, Fareha Zeba, Kanak Chanpa Chakma, Afrozaa Jamil Konka, Jibrael Ali Chowdhury and Sourav Chowdhury participated in this daylong event, showcasing their brilliant brushstrokes through their drawing sketches. The artists participated in life drawing sessions by putting the beauty of the live model on their respective canvases and interacted with prominent enthusiastic art admirers who joined the event to celebrate the essence of art and nature at the beautiful, picturesque venue.

The eighth edition of the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) is going to open its door to film enthusiasts Saturday. The four-day festival will showcase 26 films – selected from 153 entries – from 31 countries, under three categories. The Inauguration ceremony will be held at the university at 11am the day after tomorrow and the closing ceremony on March 1 at Star Cineplex, Dhanmondi. DIMFF 2022 called for submission in three categories – "independent" without any duration or a time limit, "competition" for the university students under the time limit of 10 minutes and "1-minute" for the young filmmakers from grades one to 12. The jury members of the independent category are Sara Afreen, Zahidur Rahim Anjan and Jai Sharma (India). Mahde Hasan, Sally-Ann Dunn (UK) and Elizabeth D Costa are the jury members of the competition and 1-minute categories. The festival will present the "DIMFF Best Film Award" under the independent category, and the "Cinemascope Best Film Award" under the competition category. Read: BGMEA for promoting culture, heritage to boost country's image globally Also, the "ULAB Young Film Maker Award" will be presented to student filmmakers. As per tradition, DIMFF is arranging a masterclass this year by collaborating with East London-based digital creator, documentary filmmaker and YouTuber Andy Burgess, known for hosting the YouTube show "Red Bull Origins." This master class will be held on February 28 via Zoom at 4pm to discuss "Documentary Storytelling for Online Platforms." Festival director Zerin Tasnim Tahsin Probha, coordinator Md Sambitul Islam, supervisor Hasmi Jahan Shetu and public relations and media manager Shamsul Islam Shuvo briefed the journalists about the festival Thursday. DIMFF advisor Abdul Kabil Khan, associate professor of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh's (ULAB) media studies and journalism department, was also present. The film submission period for DIMFF opened on April 3 last year and concluded on October 28. With the tradition of focusing on a particular cultural heritage element as its festival theme, DIMFF has chosen "Nokshi Pakha" as this year's theme. A flagship event of ULAB's media studies and journalism department, the festival earned the university 28th position in the entrepreneurial spirit category in the World's Universities with Real Impact Ranking 2021. Also, DIMFF has collaborated with Initiative für Neue Bildung as a "partner for change" and provides an online mobile filmmaking course to the ten participants from Barishal's Nook, a self-designed learning centre that enables marginalised community members to pursue their own education. Recently, it arranged the 'Community Digital Story Telling" filmmaking training for the Munda community in Koyra upazila of Khulna and Shyamnagar upazila of Shatkhira.

Gallery Cosmos is going to organize a daylong exclusive art event titled ’The Passion of Drawing’ on Friday at the Garden Gallery, Baridhara in the capital. The event is intended to celebrate the universal and jovial artistic pleasure of drawing, according to Gallery Cosmos Executive Artistic Manager Sourav Chowdhury. “As one of the introductory activities of human beings across the world, drawing accompanies an artist forever. To celebrate the essence of drawing in this mesmerizing Spring, Gallery Cosmos is hosting this exclusive art event titled ‘The Passion of Drawing’ with a celebratory vision to explore the innate and everlasting connection between humans and nature,” Sourav Chowdhury told UNB. Also read: Cosmos-Atelier 71 hosts Artist Residency Programme Seven leading and promising artists of the country will participate in this exclusive event. The list of stalwart artists participating in the event included Biren Shome, Kuhu, Fareha Zeba, Kanak Chanpa Chakma, Afrozaa Jamil Konka, Jibrael Ali Chowdhury and Sourav Chowdhury. These prominent artists will participate in life drawing sessions and interact with audiences over their respective works. The drawings will also be put on display simultaneously for the audiences. Also read: Cosmos dialogue on Bangladesh-South Korea relations to be premiered Thursday

Valentine's Day 2022 is approaching and love is in the air. This is the time of year when couples and singles alike celebrate love and affection. If you are looking for some great Valentine's Day deals, discounts, and offers in Dhaka city, you have come to the right place. Our city has a lot to offer when it comes to romantic getaways, and we have put together a list of some of the best deals in town. So, check them out and start planning your perfect Valentine's Day celebration. Jewelry Diamond World has organized a special campaign on the occasion of Valentine's Day 2022. With the middle class in mind, Diamond World is offering a 27% discount on diamond jewelry for online purchase at https://www.diamondworldltd.com/. Moreover, every purchase will get a gift voucher, platinum card, and special valentine gift until February 15. Also read: Digital Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas 2022 Hotels and Restaurants Almost all the restaurants and upper-class hotels in Dhaka city are offering Valentine's Day deals. Following are some of the top offers. Dhaka Regency Hotel has organized a special event on the occasion of Valentine's Day. Dhaka Regency has organized Valentine on the Skyline at Rooftop Garden Restaurant' Grill on the Skyline'. There will be a bar-b-que buffet dinner for couples. There will also be Valentine's special drinks and special heart-shaped cakes, as well as opportunities to enjoy live music by popular musicians by candlelight. All these will cost Tk 7,999. As always, Amari Dhaka has organized a special offer on the occasion of Valentine's Day where couples can enjoy special dinner and spa packages. Amaya Food Gallery has a special dinner offer for only Tk 5,000 per couple. In addition, there is a free offer for special bank cardholders at a purchase price of only Tk 2,500. Enjoy your favorite Day with Italian, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Indian Live Kitchen food at Amari Dhaka. Read Groom Gifts: Cool Wedding Gift Ideas for Men The Westin Dhaka offers several deals for couple staycation. Deluxe Rooms will cost Tk. 13,999, Junior Suite will cost Tk 16,999, and Executive Suite will cost Tk 19,999. All these deals include heart-shaped valentine cake, 24 hours stay-in, a 30% discount at Westin Spa, and more. On the other hand, Radisson Blu Dhaka has three-day offerings for couples, which will start on February 12 and ends on February 14. Pre valentine's day dinner buffet on February 12 and 13 will cost Tk 3,700 while it will be Tk 5,900 to Tk 7,900. They also have offers for a stay starting from Tk 6,500. InterContinental Dhaka has a special deal for the rooms starting at Tk 19,999, which will start on February 10 and end on February 20. The deal features a one-night stay, buffet dinner, breakfast, special chocolate box, and kore. Read Best Resorts near Dhaka for Day out or Weekend Away Ascott Hotels offer Valentine's dinner for Tk 3,500 at Nabihah Restaurant & Café at Ascott the Residence, Baridhara, Dhaka. Moreover, they also have a couple of staycation offers for Tk. 10,500/night which comes with a complimentary 6 course including dinner and breakfast. Clothing Sara Lifestyle has brought Kurtis, printed three-pieces, fashion tops, denim for the girls on Valentine's Day occasions as well as for the spring. This year's collection for men includes various arrangements, including Punjabi, casual shirts, formal shirts, polo, t-shirts, denim pants, chino. And floral print has been given priority in the design of all these garments. All the new dresses will be available both online (https://www.saralifestyle.com.bd/) and in-store. Fashion house 'Rang Bangladesh' has brought a new collection on the occasion of Valentine's Day. The theme for this year's collections is named a sign of love, which uses red as the main color and golden as a secondary color. Cotton and half silk fabric designs have been enhanced using various value-added media. This includes screen printing and handwork. This collection includes a sari, Punjabi, t-shirt, and mug with a couple dresses. There are also jewelry and various gift items. Read Wedding: Renowned Bangladeshi Fashion Brands with a Bridal Line Furniture and Home Appliances ISHO, one of the leading furniture brands in the country, has launched a new 'Date in a Box' campaign on the occasion of Valentine's Day. ISHO's initiative is to spread joy among all in the ongoing pandemic worldwide. There are three types of boxes for customers in ISHO's 'Date in a Box' campaign. Three boxes are nicely arranged with the themes of 'Movie Night,' 'Breakfast-in-Bed' and 'Candlelight Dinner' considering the preferences of the customers. Each box is priced individually. You can visit https://www.isho.com/ to get your box. RFL has introduced five new types of customized gas stoves in the market on the occasion of Valentine's Day. This special offer can be availed from the popular ecommerce site othoba.com for 10% off on the entire February. Also, on RFL Gas Stove's Facebook page, buyers will be able to participate in various online competitions of this campaign and win all the attractive prizes. Read How to buy men’s watches: A beginner’s guide Phones Samsung has collaborated with ecommerce website Daraz to provide a valentine’s day offer this year. You can enjoy all the great deals from Daraz for different Samsung devices. For example, you will get up to 12% off on Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A03s. realme is launching a new phone on Valentine's Day 2022. realme 9i will be available on the valentine's day campaign. The first smartphone of the realme 9 series comes with Leap Forward technology. The 9i has a great processor. The new chipset consumes 62% less power and is 46% more efficient than a 12-nanometer processor. Read Top Amusement Parks in Dhaka for Family Day Outs, Children Fun Activities Ecommerce Daraz Bangladesh, the country's largest online marketplace, is organizing Valentine's Day Campaign (2022) for the sixth time in a row on the occasion of Valentine's Day. The campaign will run from February 7 to February 14 to spread love among the customers. There are huge discounts on numerous products in the campaign. These include 'New User 20% Off', 'Brand Free Shipping,' 'Fashion Mega' Voucher, 'Global Collection' Voucher, 'Deals of the Day,' 'Daraz Mall' Voucher, 'Shake Shake Offer' and many more attractive deals. To celebrate Valentine's Day, the popular ecommerce site othoba.com has organized the 'Joy of Valentine Campaign.' Online customers will get the opportunity to shop at attractive discounts throughout the campaign. The campaign, which runs till February 13, offers customers a maximum of 65% discount on purchases, mega deals, exclusive offers, free delivery facility, and a 20% cashback offer on bKash payments. Read Best Bangladesh Beach Resorts to Spend Your Vacation

Remembering eminent singer Lata Mangeshkar, respectfully revered by music lovers around the world as the 'Goddess of music' who passed away on Sunday at the age of 92, noted celebrities in Bangladesh have written down emotional tributes on their social media handles throughout Sunday. Shakib Khan, Dhallywood’s most celebrated superstar in recent years, wrote on a Facebook post from his verified page pouring his heartfelt respect to the legend. "She was a total legend in her singing. It’s so sad she’s gone but her voice and music shall live on in the hearts and souls of many! #RIP #LataMangeshkar," Khan wrote. Legendary actress and Member of Parliament Subarna Mostafa wrote, "The nightingale is no more… Rest in peace Lata Mangeshkar … You have filled the hearts of millions with your music. You will remain with us forever.. Deepest Respect and Love." Read: Hasina mourns Lata Mangeshkar’s sad demise Iconic singer Kumar Bishwajit wrote on his verified Facebook page: “There is only one Lata Mangeshkar. Even though she physically left the earth today, she will remain immortal among us. We will be forever indebted to her majestic voice. May peace be upon her soul." Singer-journalist Elita Karim wrote: "A sad day for millions around the world. As Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge and music leaves for her abode, she does not leave behind the queen. #LataMangeshkar breathed her last a while ago, at the age of 92. The nightingale who has been inspiring generations of singers is finally at peace. Thank you for your music. You will live forever in our hearts." Celebrated singer Ankhi Alamgir shared a picture with the late-great singer alongside her step-mother and legendary singer Runa Laila on her Facebook profile, taken in Lata jee’s famous residence Prabhu Kunj in Mumbai on March 27, 2017. “Respect. Feeling cold, numb,” Aankhi Alamgir wrote her instant reaction upon hearing the news of the great singer’s demise.  Popular actor Ziaul Faruq Apurba wrote, “This is the end of an era. Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar passes away at the age of 92. RIP.”  Chanchal Chowdhury, one of the most beloved cultural personalities in the country, referred to the singer as the ‘Goddess of music’. Expressing his immense respect towards the legend, he wrote: "Adios, dear 'Goddess of music’ Lata Mangeshkar." Read: The day the music died in India Reminiscing his fond memory as a listener, ‘Indalo’ frontman and actor Jon Kabir wrote: "Rest well. Your voice woke me up so many times in the morning when I was a kid, all credit goes to my mom." Apart from these celebrities, a great number of music artists from different genres, film and television actors-directors and people from all walks of life have been expressing their utmost condolence and sharing fond memories of the legendary singer since receiving the news of her departure on Sunday morning.

Reminiscing the legacy of the little magazine movement that gave rise to a new generation of writers in the country, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) lifted the curtain on a week-long little magazine exhibition at its National Art Gallery in Dhaka on Tuesday. The exhibition showcasing over 800 little magazines from across the country, features a wide range of diversified topics from different genres. In addition to the inauguration of the week-long exhibition, BSA also honoured eight editors of little magazines with the ‘Little Magazine Sammanona 2022’ awards. The inauguration event was joined by Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman as the chief guest, while Bangla Academy folklore department Deputy Director and little magazine ‘Amitrakkhar’ editor Aminur Rahman Sultan and little magazine ‘Lok’ editor Aniket Shamim were present as discussants.  Presided over by BSA Director-General Liaquat Ali Lucky, the event was also joined by BSA Secretary Md Asaduzzaman who delivered the welcome speech, and writer Saikat Habib. The awards were handed over in two categories -- five awards in the central little magazine category, and three for the district and union-based little magazines. Read: My alphabet earned with blood, says Joy paying tribute to language martyrs Shahid Iqbal-edited ‘Chinho,’ Abdul Mannan Swapon-edited ‘Dhamani, Ejaz Yousufi-edited ‘Lyric,’ Mizanur Rahman Nasim-edited ‘Mananrekha’ and Obaed Akash-edited ‘Shaluk’ received the awards under the central little magazine category. Asaduzzaman Sharkar-edited ‘Mohakalgor’, published by Zila Shilpakala Academy Rajshahi, and Asit Baran Dash Gupta-edited ‘Surmakopot’, published by Zila Shilpakala Academy Sylhet, received the district-based awards and Upazila Shilpakala Academy Kamalganj in Moulvibazar, Sylhet, got the award under the union-based little magazine category for its publication titled ‘Aranyak’. The award-winning little magazines were selected by a jury composed of renowned researcher and Liberation War Museum trustee Mofidul Hoque, writer and translator Abdus Selim, and Professor Khaled Hossain. Every awardee under the central little magazine category received a crest, a certificate and Tk 50,000, while the awardees in the district and union-based categories received a crest, a certificate and Tk 25,000 each. The week-long little magazine exhibition will remain open for visitors till February 7 at gallery 6 of the National Art Gallery complex.

The RIBA International Prize 2021 is given to a hospital in Bangladesh's Satkhira district for being the world's greatest new structure. The Friendship hospital is a paradigm of climate-conscious architecture created with the lowest minimum of resources. It triumphed over competition from a David Chipperfield-designed museum in Berlin and a Wilkinson Eyre-designed cycling and footbridge in Denmark. The RIBA International Prize 2021 winner drew inspiration from water. The canal winds across the property, gathering important rainfall and aiding in the cooling of the adjacent courtyards during the scorching summer months. It acts as a hurdle between the inpatient and outpatient sections, segregating the two halves of the site without the need for a dividing wall. Conceptual and Designing Aspects When Cyclone Sidr struck the nation in 2007, causing an ever-changing terrain due to increasing water levels, the narrative for this corner of the globe shifted dramatically. Due to constant climate change, seawater has infiltrated the interior, causing all adjacent agricultural lands to be turned into shrimp production ponds. Read Top 10 Historical Mosques in Bangladesh The land around the Friendship hospital was once covered with grain fields. The surrounding settlement was also precarious, consisting mostly of low-rise buildings and thatch homes. Recognizing the limits, the Bangladeshi architect designed a somewhat linear plan with interconnecting courtyards and covered pathways to divide the inpatient and outpatient zones. When it came to establishing access control between these locations, he created a rainwater collection canal that crisscrossed the site's center. This feature operates in a variety of ways. On a functional level, the captured water assists in microclimate cooling and provides a vital resource in a location where salty water is useless for the majority of functions. On an aesthetic level, the property's constant presence of water animates the inside environment and imparts a feeling of visual continuity. A Project of Collaboration "Water pervades this space," explains architect Kashef Chowdhury, head of Urbana, the Dhaka-based firm that designed the building. "However, it is not necessarily of the beneficial kind." Rising sea levels as a result of the climate catastrophe have changed the surrounding landscape of grain fields into shrimp fishery, while the groundwater has become too salty for most uses. Read Perks of being a Miss Universe: Rewards for the Excellence in ‘Beauty with Brain’ Locals make every effort to gather and save every last drop of freshwater during the rainy season. Chowdhury has built the building as a rainwater harvesting machine, with every roof and courtyard surface emptying into the central canal, which connects to two storage tanks at the site's ends. It is the organization's first "land hospital," since Chowdhury previously assisted in converting many boats into floating hospitals to serve rural villages in the delta area. Built on the lowest budget of just under $2 million, its first permanent structure serves as a lifeline for thousands of people in a region devastated by a destructive hurricane in 2007. A Mesmerizing Building with Unique Perks The Grand Jury for the coveted prize, which included prominent people such as Es Devlin, Jeanne Gang, Rossana Hu, and Gustavo Strabo, as well as Decq, thought it pleasant to see a hospital with such a kind and natural touch. "The Friendship Hospital is particularly timely at this point in history since it tackles the global problem of uneven access to healthcare," an official press statement noted, adding that the winning project was also named the world's greatest new building. Read Ancient Temples of Bangladesh: Remembering Their Past Glory "It is an example of how a beautiful building can be accomplished via strong design even when dealing with a limited budget and constrained contextual conditions. This hospital is a celebration of a human-centered structure." Architect Kashef Chowdhary, whose practice is rooted in history and places a premium on climate, materials, and context, discusses winning the award, "In a sublimely significant moment, the RIBA and the jurors have identified a project from the global periphery to elevate to the center of architectural discourse and become the subject of one of the most prestigious global awards." I am pleased that this may motivate more of us to commit to an architecture of care for mankind and the environment, not in spite of, but precisely because of, resource and means constraints, in order to jointly address the global urges we confront; today." Cultural Acceptability Rainwater collecting is a widely acknowledged method of augmenting freshwater supplies in southern Bangladesh. While rainwater collected from ground catchments has a low bacteriological quality, rainwater collected from well-maintained rooftop catchment systems fitted with tight storages and taps is typically good for consumption and often satisfies WHO drinking water criteria. This water is of greater quality than that available in the majority of the world's conventional water sources. Read: Gender Dichotomy: Woketopian Impact on Human Lifestyle Rooftop rainwater collection may produce excellent quality water that is safe to drink if the rooftop is clean, impermeable, constructed of non-toxic materials, and is positioned away from overhanging trees. Sustainability Rainwater collection is one of the most promising options for meeting rising water shortages and demand. The strain on water resources, the increasing environmental effect of huge projects, and worsening water quality all limit the capacity of conventional sources to supply the demand for freshwater. Rainwater collection enables the supplementation of water sources while also promoting self-sufficiency and sustainability. Conclusion Rainwater harvesting effectiveness is determined by the materials used, the design and construction, the maintenance, and the overall quantity of rainfall. The runoff coefficient, which is the proportion of precipitation that occurs as runoff, is a frequently cited efficiency measure of 0.8. By contrast, when cement tiles are utilized as a roofing material, the year-round runoff coefficient is around 75%, but clay tiles often collect less than 50%, depending on the harvesting mechanism employed. Plastic and metal sheets perform the best, with an efficiency of 80–90%. A well-designed and meticulously built gutter system are also critical for the proper functioning of a rainwater harvesting system. If the gutter and down-pipe system are installed and maintained correctly, 90% or more of the rainwater collected on the roof will be discharged to the storage tank. Read 'Sisimpur' nominated for International Kidscreen Awards