United News of Bangladesh

Emerging Bangla grunge band junkhEäd has stirred excitement among rock enthusiasts with its debut track 'Shamprotik', a song that has been garnering widespread appreciation for reviving the essence of Bangla grunge genre. Released on April 10 across platforms including YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Instagram, and Facebook, the song has become a talk of the town among the listeners, and Ahsan Titu, founder of junkhEäd and formerly of renowned bands Black and Indalo, talked to UNB regarding the band's journey. According to Titu, junkhEäd introduces a gritty, emotionally charged sound, heavily inspired by the Seattle grunge movement. Titu takes on a multi-faceted role in the band, managing bass, guitar, vocals, and sound design, and throughout his musical journey, he played Bass with Horoscope, X-Trude, and Aashor, as well. "We — Bipu Ifti (guitars) and myself — had been jamming together for over a decade, composing several tracks influenced by the Seattle grunge scene," Titu told UNB. "Over time, we also ventured into post-rock and alternative rock elements."   Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the duo began crafting songs together in earnest. They were later joined by longtime friend Newton, who contributed additional guitar work. The trio bonded over their shared passion for grunge, shaping the distinct identity of junkhEäd.   On the meaning behind 'Shamprotik', Titu echoed what was already written in the song description, "This song talks about death."

'Paal: Moving through Memories, Myths, and Motion', a unique exhibition reflecting the vibrant journey of the ‘Gangaburi’ River Heritage Project, began on Friday at Brihatta Art Space in Hazaribagh in the capital. Developed under the artistic direction of acclaimed artist Bishwajit Goswami, the exhibition features three large sails symbolising Land (Bhumi), Water (Jol), and Air (Paban). Created through collaborations with artists and communities centring the Buriganga River, the sails incorporate natural materials, folk poetry, and traditional crafts, presenting a powerful metaphor for the interconnectedness of people, nature, and time. The inaugural ceremony on Friday was joined by eminent personalities, including Ekushey Padak-winning art maestro Farida Zaman; Goethe-Institut Bangladesh Country Director Frank Werner; urban traditional artists and rickshaw painters Md Hanif Pappu and Syed Ahmed Hossain; BTV journalist and researcher Imran Uz-Zaman; Brihatta Art Foundation co-founder Nusrat Mahmud; officials from various embassies; students from different institutions and art enthusiasts from different walks of life. Speaking at the event, Goethe-Institut Bangladesh Country Director Frank Werner said, "The project belongs to the community, the artists, and the audience. Under the umbrella of EUNIC (European Union National Institutes of Culture), we supported the initiative, but this is truly your project; and by putting the exhibition on a boat and bringing it to the community, the project changed the conventional concept of accessing culture." He further mentioned that the book accompanying the project is not merely a catalogue but a piece of art-based research that documents the entire journey. Artistic director Bishwajit Goswami explained, "Art is fluid, like a river. If you try to stop a river, you destroy its nature. Through this work, we are exploring how collaboration and collective efforts can foster learning and growth. This is just the beginning—the project and its ideas will continue to evolve." Art maestro Farida Zaman praised the artistic collaboration and officially inaugurated the exhibition. The Gangaburi project’s selected artists for 2023 included Ahmed Rasel, Aminul Islam Ashik, Anannya Mehpar Azad, Kazi Sydul Karim Tuso, Md Khairul Alam (Shada), Nur A Alaa Siddique, and Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury.

Across the Netherlands, people donned orange clothes — from tuxedos to feather boas — and boats packed with revelers clogged Amsterdam's canals to celebrate their king's birthday Saturday. In an Amsterdam park, a dog called Lucy sported orange-dyed fur. “I love it. It’s a day where every year everyone just comes together, just celebrates and it doesn’t matter where you’re from everyone is just accepted," said 22-year-old Dicky van Warmerdam. "And if you look around, it’s just a giant party and who doesn’t want that?” The official royal walkabout by King Willem-Alexander and family members in the eastern town of Doetinchem started an hour later than planned so as not to clash with the funeral at the Vatican of Pope Francis. In a video message, Willem-Alexander said the day of Dutch celebration “has two faces” due to the pope's funeral, and paid tribute to Francis. “For many Catholics and non-Catholics, he was a source of inspiration,” the king said. The king's 58th birthday is on Sunday, but King's Day was held a day earlier. The celebrations began Friday night with street markets in the central city of Utrecht and parties in other towns and cities. Pope Francis laid to rest as world leaders mourn By Saturday afternoon, some canals in the Dutch capital were crammed with boats, the water sometimes barely visible through the throngs of people and clouds of orange smoke from flares. In a message on social media, Amsterdam Municipality said parts of the city were “too full” and urged people not to visit Amsterdam and “celebrate King's Day somewhere else.” Other cities also reported that events were overcrowded. In Amsterdam's Vondel Park, children spread out blankets and sold unwanted toys, clothes and books in one of the many “free markets” that spring up on sidewalks and parks. And it wasn't just the Dutch who were celebrating in Amsterdam. “It is a great moment for togetherness, to be with friends, you know, ... to make new connections," said 23-year-old Lorenzo Soldi from Italy.

A colourful blend of culture and entrepreneurship is on display at the Pakistan Lifestyle Exhibition, currently underway at the Gulshan Shooting Club in Dhaka.  The event, which began on April 23, offers a platform for showcasing the Pakistani traditions while fostering cross-border collaboration. The exhibition brings together over 30 stalls featuring authentic Pakistani cuisine, traditional attire, and handcrafted footwear for both men and women. Visitors are experiencing a rich blend of flavour and fashion, highlighting Pakistan’s cultural heritage. Organised by Pakistan Livestyle in partnership with Bangladesh-based Gameplay Limited, the event aims to strengthen cultural and business ties between the two nations. Thousands gather in New Mexico for the largest powwow in North America “This exhibition has opened boundless opportunities for both nations to share and represent their unique lifestyles. It’s more than an event — it’s a celebration of cultural harmony,” said Faisal Titumir, Chairman and Co-founder of Gameplay Limited. Echoing the sentiment, Shagufta Bakht, CEO of Pakistan Livestyle, remarked in her inaugural speech, “The gate to cultural collaboration between Pakistan and Bangladesh is now wide open. We envision increased business ventures and entrepreneurial interest arising from this initiative.” The exhibition will remain open to the public until April 27. Pakistan Livestyle is a prominent event organiser promoting Pakistan’s culture, fashion, and heritage through global platforms. Gameplay Limited is known for curating impactful events that foster community engagement and diversity in Bangladesh.      

Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage has joined forces with the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture and Design, part of the Doris Duke Foundation in Honolulu, Hawaii, to present a new exhibition titled “Artifacts In Play with Assassin’s Creed Mirage”. Running through to August 30, the exhibit explores the fusion of gaming, history, and art by showcasing authentic artefacts featured in the game’s History of Baghdad segment, according to Ubisoft. Two notable objects on display are the blown glass jar with trailed zigzag decoration and the twelve-sided bronze mortar with animal finials and vegetal motif panels.

A group art exhibition titled “Where the Spirit Meets the Bone” will be open to the public from April 25 to May 16 at the Satori Academy of Arts in Banani, Dhaka. Organised as part of the British Council’s Art Exchange: Moving Image programme, the exhibition is curated by Kehkasha Sabah and features works by both local and international artists. The exhibition will be inaugurated on April 25 at 4:30 pm by eminent Bangladeshi artists Dhali Al Mamun and Dilara Begum Jolly, alongside Stephen Forbes, Country Director, British Council Bangladesh. The first chapter of the exhibition, scheduled from April 25 to May 7, explores sensory ecologies through social, emotional, and cultural fractures such as erasure, trauma, and loss, while emphasising care as a healing process. It includes work by seven Bangladeshi artists — Naeem Mohaiemen, Reetu Sattar, Sharad Das, Shohrab Jahan, Yasmin Jahan Nupur, Zihan Karim, and Sounak Das (Bangladesh/The Netherlands) — and four international artists — Afrah Shafiq (India), Ceal Floyer (UK), Hetain Patel (UK), and Hong-Kai Wang (Taiwan). Selected artworks have been loaned from the British Council Collection. The exhibition also features contributions by four Bangladeshi art students. Goethe-Institut celebrates return to historic Dhanmondi address  The second chapter, running from May 9-16, will showcase the outcomes of experimental workshops facilitated by artist-educators Shohrab Jahan and Zihan Karim. Focusing on moving images in both pedagogy and artistic practice, this segment will present a range of works including moving images, sound installations, and interactive pieces. Workshop participants include Abid Hassan, Arshadul Hoque, Naznin Ahmed, and Sadia Afroz — all from Bangladesh. “Where The Spirit Meets the Bone is a speculative project, evoking our somatic senses and their profound relation with care, necessary in the often-indescribable human terrain where vulnerability converges. The title also comes from Miller Williams’ poem ‘Compassion’, a reminder to see human frailty with empathy,” writes curator Kehkasha Sabah. To mark the exhibition’s inauguration, Stephen Forbes, Country Director Bangladesh, British Council, stated: “The British Council is committed to assisting talented artists through various UK-Bangladesh initiatives. We are delighted to be supporting Kehkasha Sabah, and her exhibition through ‘Art Exchange: Moving Image’." "This immersive and thought-provoking exhibition, organised as part of a curatorial fellowship, not only showcases Kehkasha Sabah’s artistic dedication to societal themes but also enriches the cultural tapestry shared between the UK and Bangladesh. I warmly invite not only art enthusiasts but everyone to experience this remarkable exhibition," Stephen Forbes stated. More details of this exhibition are available at https://kehkasha.name/index.php.

A set of the first four editions of William Shakespeare’s collected works is expected to sell for up to 4.5 million pounds ($6 million) at auction next month. Sotheby’s auction house announced the sale on Wednesday, Shakespeare's 461st birthday. It said the May 23 sale will be the first time since 1989 that a set of the First, Second, Third and Fourth Folios has been offered at auction as a single lot. The auction house estimated the sale price at between 3.5 million and 4.5 million pounds. After Shakespeare’s death in 1616, his plays were collected into a single volume by his friends John Heminges and Henry Condell, actors and shareholders in the playwright’s troupe, the King’s Men. 84% of global coral reefs affected by worst bleaching event on record The First Folio — fully titled “Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories & Tragedies” — contained 36 plays, of which half were published there for the first time. Without the book, scholars say, plays including “Macbeth,” “The Tempest” and “Twelfth Night” might have been lost. Sotheby’s called the volume “without question the most significant publication in the history of English literature.” About 750 copies were printed in 1623, of which about 230 are known to survive. All but a few are in museums, universities or libraries. One of the few First Folios in private hands sold for $9.9 million at an auction in 2020. The First Folio proved successful enough that a an updated edition, the Second Folio, was published in 1632, a third in 1663 and a fourth in 1685. Although the First Folio is regarded as the most valuable, the third is the rarest, with 182 copies known to survive. It is believed the third book’s rarity is because some of the stock was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. The Third Folio included seven additional plays, but only one – “Pericles, Prince of Tyre” – is believed to be by Shakespeare.

Goethe-Institut Bangladesh celebrated the grand reopening of its newly renovated premises at the familiar old address - House 10, Road 9, Dhanmondi Residential Area - in the capital on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in the institute’s decades-long commitment to fostering cultural exchange between Germany and Bangladesh. Established in Dhaka in 1961, Goethe-Institut Bangladesh has grown into a dynamic cultural hub that serves people from all walks of life. The institution has played a pivotal role in promoting German language learning, organizing artistic events, film screenings, lectures, and facilitating exchange opportunities, thereby acting as a vital bridge between the two nations. The reopening of the Dhanmondi premises—where the institution has deep-rooted historical ties—was held under the slogan "Back where we belong," celebrating a return to its spiritual and cultural home.

The 20th solo exhibition by Arham ul Huq Chowdhury, titled 'Decorated Deeds: Bangla Calligraphy on Antique Documents', is currently ongoing at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) in the capital’s Dhanmondi. The latest exhibition of Arham's, 'Decorated Deeds', marks his 20th solo show and celebrates 30 years of his association with Alliance Française de Dhaka. Opened on the day of Pahela Baishakh (April 14), the first day of Bangla New Year — this special series features 31 Bangla calligraphy artworks rendered on rare antique documents, some dating back to the East India Company and colonial periods. In this unique body of work, Arham overlays ancient Bangla idioms and proverbs onto vintage papers, symbolically linking linguistic heritage with the tangible remnants of historical narratives—preserving both art and memory. 4th edition of Bangladesh Press Photo Contest launched at Drik "In my pursuit of various facets of arts and knowledge, I came to initiate Bangla calligraphy; going further into it, I found dimensions being added on the way," Arham said in a recent interview with UNB. "In that process of doing Bangla calligraphy, searching for age old idioms, phrases, riddles, and sayings that resonate with deeper meaning, and going further this time, I have tried adding another layer to the visual representation of the ancient words of wisdom." “In 'Decorated Deeds', Arham ul HuQ Chowdhury does not merely exhibit—he resurrects; through the marriage of antique documents and Bangla calligraphy, each work becomes a vessel of memory, a bridge between centuries, and these proverbs are not relics—they are reminders, speaking with renewed urgency about identity, wisdom, and the lived texture of language. We are proud to support this timely and timeless exhibition, which doesn’t just honor heritage—it activates it.” — ARK Reepon, Curator of the exhibition and Founder of ARTCON, told UNB. Arham is a versatile Bangladeshi artist, calligrapher, sculptor, designer, and researcher whose creative journey spans over three decades and multiple mediums. With a formal academic background in Anthropology—holding both Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Dhaka—his work reflects a profound engagement with culture, heritage, and the environment.

The Bangladesh Press Photo Contest 2025 has begun at Drik for the fourth consecutive time to celebrate the professionalism, skill, and courage of the country's photojournalists.  The names of seven winners were announced at the inaugural ceremony held on Saturday evening,m at Drikpath Bhaban in Panthapath, Dhaka. The contest began on February 9 with an open call for submissions, and a total of 252 photojournalists submitted 1,310 photographs taken over the past year, covering political, economic, social, cultural, wildlife, and documentary themes.  From these, 31 photographs were selected for the exhibition, which is now open to the public. The Picture of the Year 2024 award was presented to Ashraful Alom, former photojournalist of Prothom Alo, who received a cash prize of Tk 1,00,000.  Six other photographers were awarded under three categories.  In the Politics category, Kazi Salahuddin Razu of Bonik Barta was named winner, and Dr Kumar Bishwajit of Reviewthatplace.com received an Honourable Mention.  United News of Bangladesh (UNB) Photojournalist Tahiyat Nazifa Noor's one of the nominated photographs is being exhibited in this exhibition under this particular category. In the Public Interest Journalism category, M Yousuf Tushar of Business Bangladesh was named winner, while Md Abu Noman Omit of limerickbd.comreceived an Honourable Mention.  In the Arts, Culture and Sports category, Jahir Ahammed Shakil of Image Ghor Photographic Society was declared winner, and Rashed Shumon of The Daily Star received an Honourable Mention.  Each category winner received Tk 50,000 and Honourable Mentions received Tk 10,000, along with crests and certificates.