Thespian couple and Ekushey Padak recipients Ramendu and Ferdousi Majumdar tested positive for COVID-19 back in July, but now are on the road to recovering from the virus.

"My wife (Ferdousi Majumdar) tested positive on July 18. I also tested positive for the virus five days later," Ramendu, President of International Theatre Institute (ITI), told UNB.

Regarding their treatment procedures, Ramendu informed UNB - "We have been in home isolation and consulting our doctor along with following all safety measures at home. We are now feeling well, with mild fever cold that will hopefully be cured in the upcoming days".

"We thank all our fans and well-wishers for keeping us in their prayers and please do not be worried," Ramendu Majumdar told UNB expressing his gratitude on behalf of the couple.

Two of the most respected icons in the theatre and television sphere of Bangladesh, the couple tied their knots in 1970 and known for many of their iconic performances on both stage and television dramas together.

Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar on Tuesday recommended CBI probe into the case over the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found dead on June 14.

“The state government has sent its recommendation for a CBI probe into the FIR registered by Sushant Singh Rajput’s father KK Singh,” Nitish Kumar tweeted on Tuesday afternoon after completing the paperwork to make the recommendation, reports Hindustan Times.

The Congress hit out at the Bihar government for trying to interfere in the Mumbai police probe into Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, asking Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar to read the Constitution again..

Kumar had earlier in the day announced that his government would seek a CBI probe after Bihar lawmakers across parties demanded that the central investigating agency take up the case.

The actor’s suicide in Mumbai has been a politically sensitive case in Bihar, Sushant Singh’s home before he moved to Mumbai.

Bihar assembly elections are scheduled later this year and no party wants to be seen standing on the wrong side of the narrative around Sushant Singh Rajput’s death in Bihar.

But the attempt by Bihar Police to launch a parallel investigation into Sushant Singh’s death in Mumbai had been a controversial one, right from the beginning over the jurisdiction of the state police for offences alleged to have taken place in Maharashtra.

The standoff between Mumbai and Bihar police over the Sushant Singh case is seen to mirror the rivalry between the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in Bihar and Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition that comprises the Shiv Sena, Congress and Nationalist Congress Party.

Sushant Singh Rajput, one of Bollywood's most versatile and celebrated young actors, has apparently taken his own life at his Bandra residence on June 14.

The 34-year-old was found hanging in his house in Mumbai on Sunday, according to Mumbai police. The details behind his apparent suicide are yet to be investigated, according to Indian media.

Also read: Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput found dead

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan was discharged from a Mumbai hospital on Sunday after undergoing three weeks of treatment for the coronavirus.

His actor son, Abhishek Bachchan, who is still in the Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital with the virus, said in a tweet that his father has tested negative and will rest at home. Both were hospitalized on July 11.

Abhishek Bachchan's wife, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and their 8-year-old daughter, who both also contracted the virus, left the hospital last week after recovering. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is a top Bollywood actress.

The elder Bachchan, 77, has acted in more than 200 Indian films over the past five decades. He is also a former politician and television host.

The Bachchans are often called Bollywood's first family. Amitabh Bachchan's wife, Jaya, is also an actress and a one-time member of Parliament. She was not hit by the coronavirus.

Also read: Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan tests positive for COVID-19

Dhaka International Youth Film Festival-2020 began virtually on the website and Facebook page of 'Step for Cinema', a youth-oriented organisation of young filmmakers on Wednesday.

With an aim to provide new filmmakers with a platform to showcase their creative talents, the festival was inaugurated with country's acclaimed filmmakers Amitabh Reza Chowdhury and Mostofa Sarwar Farooki as the guests of this virtual inauguration.

Festival chairperson Anonna Ruma also spoke at the inauguration ceremony, conducted by film critic and screenwriter Sadia Khalid Reeti.

In his welcome message, filmmaker Amitabh Reza Chowdhury said, "Although the world has been stuck in a strange situation due to the pandemic - we, as storytellers, always want to tell stories surrounding us to the audience. In a crucial time period when all of us are passing through many difficulties, this festival by the new platform 'Step for Cinema' will provide a platform to new filmmakers through featuring films from countries including India, Nepal, Turkey, Canada and others. I wish Dhaka International Youth Film Festival good luck and a great success."

Welcoming the audience, noted filmmaker Mostafa Sarwar Farooki said, "Our film industry has been moving forward despite having many obstacles on its way. I hope the festival will play an important role for the betterment of our film industry.'’

"Founded by a number of young and talented filmmakers, ‘Step For Cinema' began its journey in 2018. Our aim is to make short films, organise film workshops, provide training on filmmaking, bring out film publications and a handful of other exciting activities", festival chairperson Anonna Ruma said in her opening remarks.

According to Ruma, a total of 656 films from 45 countries have been submitted to the festival, while a group of young directors from Bangladesh, India and Iran evaluated the submitted films and selected a total of 58 films from 25 countries.

The inaugural day of the festival showcased local and international films including Turkish film ‘Cleats’, local films ‘Poran Putul’, ‘Pratyahik’, ‘Charka’ and ‘Nienta In Realta’, Afghan film ‘Mirror is the Witness’, Croatian film ‘The Stump’, Indian films ‘The Outcast’, ‘Sonshayani’ and ‘The Meat’, Egyptian film ‘Anthropo’, Syrian film ‘The Last Station’, Greek film ‘One Way Ticket’, Iranian film ‘Elders’, English film ‘Jane the Queen’, German film ‘Sleepwalker’ and Italian film ‘Breath g’.

A panel of judges including veteran actor Tariq Anam Khan, singer SI Tutul and filmmaker Shahneoyaj Cacoly and seven filmmakers from Canada, Iran, Turkey, Nepal, Mexico and India are evaluating in this year's festival.

Participant filmmakers in the festival will receive awards in various categories namely Best Film, Best Director, Best Script, Best Cinematography, Best Actor/Actress, Best Bengali Movie and Best Experimental Film. In addition to these, a Bangladeshi filmmaker will receive an award in the 'Lifetime Achievement' category.

Along with the screenings, the festival is also featuring online webinars and discussions where seasoned filmmakers from across the globe will participate in the sessions as guest speakers.

Interested audiences can enjoy the films on Step for Cinema’s website and Facebook page from 4 pm to 7 pm till July 31.

Bollywood actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and her daughter Aaradhya  got discharged from Nanavati Hospital on Monday after they tested negative for Covid-19.

“Thank you all for your continued prayers and good wishes. Indebted forever. Aishwarya and Aaradhya have thankfully tested negative and have been discharged from the hospital. They will now be at home. My father and I remain in hospital under the care of the medical staff”, her husband Abhishek Bachchan tweeted on Monday from his verified Twitter account.

The former miss world Aishwarya and her daughter were shifted to Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital in Mumbai on July 17 as both of them have developed breathlessness, according to Indian media.

Coronavirus infected Aishwarya's husband Abhishek and father-in-law, Bollywood's legendary superstar Amitabh Bachchan have been staying in the same hospital since July 11.

Amitabh Bachchan, 77, tweeted on July 11 that he had tested positive and appealed to those who were in close proximity to him in the past 10 days to get themselves tested.

His son, Abhishek Bachchan, 44, also tweeted that he also had tested positive and was in a hospital.