Bangladeshi
Coke Studio Bangla celebrates colours of Bangladeshi wedding with 'Lilabali'
With its biggest artists' collaboration in a single track, Coke Studio Bangla released its seventh song Wednesday night – a fusion of Radharaman Dutta's "Lilabali" and Bari Siddiquie's "Bhaber Deshe Thako Kanya."
Composed and arranged by Shayan Chowdhury Arnob, the song Lilabali features Rubaiyat Rehman, Tasfia Fatima (Tashfee), Masha Islam, Karishma Sanu Sovvota, Jannatul Firdaus Akbar, Sanzida Mahmood Nandita, Armeen Musa, Warda Ashraf and Md Makhon Mia.
Read: Ustad Rashid Khan to sing in 'Coke Studio Bangla' Season Two
The fusion encapsulates the many ways a bride is adorned by her bridesmaids and the rush of emotions that goes through each of them. It also shows the other side of the same coin, where the groom expresses his sentiments in a light and fun setting.
Together, the song draws a complete picture of the Bangladeshi way of celebrating a wedding.
The chief sound engineer of the song is Faizan Rashid Ahmad (Buno), and the track was mixed and mastered by Saadul Islam.
The orchestration team features Hassan Haider Khan (shehnai), Rahin Haider (tenor saxophone), Sayonton Mangsang (alto saxophone), Saadul Islam (banjitar and electric guitar), Imran Ahmed (electric guitar), Shuvendu Das Shuvo (electric guitar), Faizan Rashid Ahmad Buno (bass), Shayan Chowdhury Arnob (guitar), Ripon Kumar Sarkar (khomok), Mithun Chakra (percussions), Mubarak Islam (percussions), Pantho Kanai (drums), Pradyut Chatterjea (keys), Adit Rahman (Keys), and Salahuddin Mahmud (harmonium).
Up to now, the first season of Coke Studio Bangla has released seven complete fusion tracks – "Nasek Nasek" (Animes Roy, Pantho Kanai), "Prarthona" (Momotaz Begum and Mizan Rahman), "Bulbuli" (Ritu Raj, Nandita), "Bhober Pagol" (Nigar Sumi and Jalali Set), "Chiltey Roud" (Arnob and Boga Taleb), "Shob Lokey Koy" (Kaniz Khandaker Mitu and Murshidabadi) and Lilabali.
Also read: Coke Studio Bangla concert held at Army Stadium
Music enthusiasts can enjoy the fusion performances on Coca-Cola Bangladesh's official Facebook page, YouTube channel and Spotify.
Coke Studio Bangla is produced by Grey Advertising Bangladesh, with Syed Gousul Alam Shaon being the creative producer of the show and Shayan Chowdhury Arnob as the curator and music producer.
Colombo Port offers special berthing facilities to Bangladeshi vessels
Sri Lanka's state-owned Jaya Container Terminal at Colombo Port has offered priority berthing facilities to Bangladeshi feeder vessels.
Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Prasantha Jayamanna has recently announced it at a discussion in Colombo, according to a message received here on Friday.
He briefed Bangladesh about the present facilities as well as ongoing and future expansion plan of Colombo Port which would increase their container handling capacity to 15 million TEUs once completed in 2025-26.
Bangladesh High Commission has been pursuing this priority berthing issue with SLPA for long, said the nessage from the mission.
Bangladesh High Commission to Sri Lanka organized in Colombo a stakeholders’ consultation forum recently on enhancing shipping connectivity between Chattogram and Colombo Ports pursuant to observance of the First Economic Diplomacy Week.
The purpose was to facilitate greater understanding of operational issues between Chattogram and Colombo Ports and ensure greater connectivity and supply chain security and stronger partnership between the two ports.
Representatives from port authorities of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, terminal operators, main line operators, feeder operators, freight forwarders as well as users of the two ports presented their respective perspectives.
READ: Sri Lanka offers greater use of Colombo port by Bangladesh
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Tareq Md Ariful Islam shared Bangladesh’s remarkable economic developments and the potential it holds for Colombo Port.
He also mentioned of the changes in the global logistics operations due to the pandemic and now the war, the resultant trends in shipping and necessity of offer of possible incentives from Colombo Port.
The Chairman of SLPA, private terminal operators and Sri Lankan shipping community assured of giving continued priority to Bangladesh users, according to Bangladesh High Commission in Colombo.
Referring to the recent negative media reporting on Colombo Port, they clarified that that their Port’s operation remains unaffected by the crisis situation in the country.
Both sides emphasized the importance of real time communication among all the stakeholders of the two countries.
Representative of Chattogram Port Authority shared that Bangladesh’s container traffic through Colombo Port has increased significantly last year.
Representatives of Bangladesh stakeholders shared the users’ perspective about Colombo Port, emerging trends and challenges in shipping operations.
In the interactive session that followed, the panelists from both sides responded to the queries from the participants which cleared many of the issues involving Chattogram-Colombo connectivity.
It was physically attended by senior representatives from the Sri Lankan shipping community.
From Bangladesh side, Senior Executive Director of Karnaphuli Group and HR Lines Anis Ud Dowla, Head of Operation and Marketing of Mohammadi Group and Country Head of DSV Logistics joined through zoomlink.
Bangladeshi businessman shot to death in US
A 47-year-old Bangladeshi businessman was gunned down by an unidentified assailant in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States on Wednesday.
Abu Saleh Mohammad Mahfuz Ahmed was from Noakhali and lived in Atlanta with his father Abu Taher, wife Mahmuda Begum, son Faruz Ahmed (4) and daughter Faiza Mahfuz (9), the deceased's younger brother Masum Ahmed told UNB.
Saleh went to America about 12 years ago in search of a living after winning the Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery or DV Lottery. He set up his own business in Georgia after working at a shop.
On Wednesday morning Bangladesh time, a man fired bullets at him inside his shop, killing Saleh on the spot, Tarek Hasan, a Bangladeshi who lives in Georgia, said.
Saleh's father said he will be buried at a local cemetery after funeral prayers in the small hours of Friday (Bangladesh time).
Also read: Police make 'significant' arrest over London teacher's death
Missing Bangladeshi journalist found in Libya after 5 days
Bangladeshi journalist Zahidur Rahman, who went missing in Libya five days ago, has been found.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, who is in Sri Lanka now, on Monday confirmed that Zahidur, a special correspondent of private TV channel NTV, was found.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Libya Major General SM Shamim-Uz-Zaman conveyed the updates to Foreign Minister Momen in the evening.
The Libyan authorities told him that the Bangladeshi is in their custody.
Zahidur's family said he flew to the UK on March 3 and reached Libya's capital Tripoli on March 21.
READ: Coronavirus: Bangladeshi journalist dies in New York
The journalist went missing on March 23, Zahidur's wife Taslima Rahman said.
A day before he went missing, Zahidur took several photos at Green Square in Tripoli on March 22.
Taking photos is banned in Tripoli and that may be the reason for the journalist going missing.
Painter Mahfuzur Rahman to participate as first-ever Bangladeshi artist in World Art Dubai
As the Middle East's largest contemporary retail art fair ‘World Art Dubai’ (W.A.D) is all set to return for its eighth edition from Wednesday to the UAE's glitziest city - where this year, painter Mahfuzur Rahman is set to make his mark as the first Bangladeshi artist to be featured at W.A.D.
Mahfuzur will have hids his own stand (Q 07) displaying 13 of his paintings at the famous art fair from March 16-19 at Dubai's World Trade Centre.
Sharing his excitement with UNB from Dubai, Mahfuzur Rahman said this is an incredible achievement of his career to participate in the glorious international platform, hoisting the Bangladeshi flag as the first-ever participating painter from his motherland.
READ: Photography exhibition ‘Shahabuddin: The Painter, The Fighter’ begins at DU
“Words cannot describe how immensely happy and proud I am to be the first and only Bangladeshi Artist participating in this world-famous art carnival, known for interconnecting the art world to the artists and artwork buyers. All praise to my Almighty and I am thankful to all of my family, friends and well-wishers,” Rahman told UNB.
Hosting a gigantic collection of more than 4000 artwork pieces from more than 120 renowned galleries and solo artists hailing from 50 plus countries, this year’s World Art Dubai is set to enthral art admirers with multiple art workshops, art talks, live performances and several other segments highlighting young talents from diverse backgrounds and giving them the opportunity to be seen, thrive, and network with the art world.
At the event, Mahfuzur is also participating with the Funun art group with 74 artists. He will also participate in another segment titled ArtWalk.
A full-time corporate professional and also a passionate contemporary painter, Mahfuzur Rahman has participated in over 20 solo and group art exhibitions in eight countries around the world.
In September last year, two of his paintings were displayed at the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) art event at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).
Set to be World Art Dubai’s largest and most diverse edition ever, the event aspires to enthral the art admirers through a collection of paintings, prints, sculptures, street and digital art featuring an inaugural NFT platform. Typically, artworks at World Art Dubai are priced from $100 to $20,000.
Like the recently concluded Art Dubai which had its first digital art section this year, the eighth World Art Dubai will also dedicate a zone to crypto art titled W.A.D Next. In addition, it will provide information on cryptocurrency via a special talk programmed by MENA Tech alongside a podcast on NFTs titled Crypto Sheikhs.
Other highlights this year include a show of underwater artworks by Singapore-based artist Olga Belka. Her sculptures were made at the bottom of the sea, with the artist diving multiple times to complete her unique underwater projects.
Bangladeshi shot dead ‘by BSF’ along Kushtia border
A 35-year-old man was shot dead allegedly by the members of Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along Bilgathua border in Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia on Saturday night.
The deceased was identified as Liton Biswas, son of Akbar Biswash of Bilgathua Mathpara village in the upazila.
Local people said a group of people including Liton was returning to the village from India through the border at night.
READ: 2 held with 20 gold bars along Jashore border
At one stage, BSF troops of Meghna camp of Hoglabaria in Nadia district opened fire on them, leaving Liton dead.
Others managed to enter the country safely.
However, Zabid Hasan, officer-in-charge of Doulatpur Police Station, said the body was kept at Hoglabaria Police Station and the reason behind the killing could not be ascertained yet
READ: Cow smuggler allegedly shot dead by BSF at Rowmari border
Bangladeshi, Malaysian recruiters demand end of syndication in manpower business
The manpower recruiting agencies of Bangladesh and Malaysia have jointly expressed their stance against the 25-agency syndicate for sending workers to Malaysia.
Bangladeshi recruiters, virtually joined by recruiters from Malaysia at a city hotel Thursday, demanded equal opportunity for all agencies and cancellation of the recruiting licences of those who are lobbying for further syndication.
"Bangladesh should get the same facilities as other 14 countries like Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Pakistan who can send their workers to Malaysia without any such syndicate," said Abul Bashar, former president of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira).
"All recruiting agencies are of equal qualifications and they have acquired licence by providing the same amount of caution money so they cannot be considered subagents of the 25 chosen ones."
Also read: Recruiting agents oppose 25-agency syndicate for exporting manpower to Malaysia
"Although ten agencies and 210 subagents got approval in 2016, only the ten agencies could send workers to Malaysia. Also, these agencies have been charging two to three times more fees from the expat workers travelling from Bangladesh," Bashar added.
Malaysian Association of Private Employers General Secretary Sukumar Nair said the new initiative of syndication or manipulation would destroy the market and the relations between the two countries.
A debate is going on over syndication in labour recruitment in Malaysia after Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on December 19 last year.
Twenty-five Bangladeshi agents and 250 subagents mentioned by Malaysian Human Resources Minister M Saravanan in a letter to Bangladesh Expatriates' Welfare Minister Imran Ahmad on 14 January sparked the debate.
On January 18, Imran sent a letter to the Malaysian government reiterating the ministry's position against any sort of syndication in manpower export to Malaysia, which was lauded by the Bangladeshi recruiters.
Also read: Malaysia for elevating ties with Bangladesh to 'strategic level'
Recently, the Bangladesh and Malaysia chapters of Transparency International jointly called for releasing the details of the MoU signed on December 19.
They called on the governments of the two countries to take preventive measures against all possible corruption, including the control of syndicates in the recruitment process.
Another 98 Bangladeshi workers leave for S Korea
A total of 339 Bangladeshi workers have left for South Korea since December, 2021.
On Wednesday, 98 Bangladeshi workers left for South Korea from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport via chartered flights operated by a Korean air company.
It was the second batch of Bangladeshi expatriate workers going to Korea this year after the 92 workers on 5th January.
READ: Oman envoy praises Bangladeshi workers for contribution to economic development of Oman
According to the Bangladesh Bank, the remittance inflow from the Bangladesh workers in Korea has been continuously increasing in recent years from US$ 80.65 million in FY 2016/17 to US$ 209.16 million in FY 2020/21.
The South Korean Government suspended accepting foreign workers in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed receiving the expatriates from December 2021.
After the resumption, so far, a total of 339 Bangladesh expatriate workers have traveled to Korea; 111 in December 2021, 130 in January, 2022 and 98 in February 2022, said the South Korean Embassy in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Originally 108 workers were supposed to depart, but 10 workers who were found COVID-19 positive in the PCR test could not join this time.
Among the 98 workers, 34 workers were newly employed while the rest of them, 64 were re-entry workers.
Another batch of 130 Bangladesh workers will be sent to Korea in mid-February.
South Korea has been admitting medium and low-skilled foreign workers from 16 countries including Bangladesh through the EPS (Employment Permit System) program.
Due to the unprecedented and prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, however, the Korean Government suspended receiving EPS workers.
Accommodating continuous requests from the sending countries as well as from the employers, the Korean Government decided to lift the suspension from November last year in a limited scope and phased manner with strict COVID-19 protective measures including quarantines.
So far, more than 20,000 Bangladesh workers have been dispatched to Korea through the EPS system.
Indian coast guard hands over 20 Bangladeshi fishermen
Indian coast guard has completed the transfer of 20 Bangladeshi fishermen with their fishing trawler to their Bangladeshi counterparts in Bagerhat’s Mongla.
Indian Coast Guard ship Sarojini Naidu on Sunday handed over the fishermen of FB Allahdan trawler.
On December 26, the fishermen were rescued by the Indian coast guard members, after 15 days in the sea as their engine stopped due to a mechanical glitch.
READ: Coast Guard rescues 7 fishermen from Bay
The rescued fishermen are Nurul Islam, Md. Tachin, Md. Nurul Islam, Md. Hanif, Md. Sohail, Md. Green, Md. Aaron, Md. Jamal, Md. Basar, Md. Mostafiz, Md. Solomon, Md. Abu Zaher, Md. Delwar and Md. Ripon. All of them are from different villages of Bhola district.
Media officer of Bangladesh Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Abdur Rahman said that on December 6, FB Allahdan with 20 fishermen from Char Fashion of Bhola district went to sea for fishing. Due to a glitch the engine stopped; the trawler floated to Indian waters on 11 December. After 15 days, the Indian coast guard identified the fishing trawler on December 26 and informed the Bangladesh Coast Guard.
The 20 fishermen and the fishing trawler were handed over to its owner on Monday, he said.
Adieus to the legends, in loving memories of 2021
As Rabindranath Tagore once said “Let life be beautiful like summer flowers and death like autumn leaves” – the time of the year back once again, as it always goes back and forth every year when the nation remembers those who departed from their families and admirers to answer the ultimate call.
Sadly, due to several reasons and especially the still raging Covid-19 pandemic, many of the passionate and respected individuals in the entertainment and cultural arena of Bangladesh bade their final adieus to the world during the past twelve months in 2021.
These legendary figures have dedicated their eventful lives to the betterment of Bangladeshi culture; and because of their lifelong contributions, today Bangladesh is well-known and respected among the global community of culture and entertainment, in the genres of Literature, Art, Cinema, Television, Theatre and Music.
READ: Writer, freedom fighter Begum Mushtari Shafi dies
This article fondly remembers all eminent and legendary figures that Bangladesh has lost throughout this year, categorized based on their individual and respective genres.
Literature
The rueful adieus started with the departure of the Ekushey Padak winning legendary novelist Rabeya Khatun, who passed away on January 3 at the age of 85 due to old-age complications.
Bangla Academy, the oldest and dedicated organization promoting Bengali literature in the country, has lost many of its guardian angels this year including two of its immediate past chairmen, Professor Shamsuzzaman Khan (81) who passed away on April 14 after his failed battle with Covid-19, and National Professor and renowned Nazrul researcher Rafiqul Islam (87) on November 30. Meanwhile, the immediate past Director General Habibullah Sirajee (72) also left the world on May 24.
Ekushey Padak winner eminent Bangladeshi short-story writer and novelist Hasan Azizul Huq passed away on November 15, at the age of 82. Meanwhile, this year’s Ekushey Padak conferred fiction writer Bulbul Chowdhury passed away on August 29. Sheikh Abdul Hakim, popularly known as the ghostwriter of superhit spy thriller series 'Masud Rana', breathed his last at the age of 75 on August 29 after losing his long battle with bronchitis. Renowned Bangladeshi publisher and founder of the University Press Limited Mohiuddin Ahmed left the earth on June 22.
Cinema
Ekushey Padak and National Film Award-winning legendary Bangladeshi actor ATM Shamsuzzaman passed away on February 20 this year at the age of 79, while another silver screen legend and Member of Parliament Sarah Begum Kabori breathed her last on April 17 after losing her battle with COVID-19 at the age of 70. Another actor from Bangladeshi’s ‘Golden Era’ of cinema Mesbahuddin Ahmed, popularly known by his stage name Wasim, passed away the very next day. The former ‘Mr East Pakistan’ breathed his last at the age of 74 due to old age complications, while veteran director Shafiqur Rahman, known for his famous movie “Dhaka 86,” died on September 2 at the age of 70.
Television and Theatre
A large group of known faces from the television and theatre arena left the world this year, starting with actor and freedom fighter Mujibur Rahman Dilu (69) on January 19. Legendary playwright and Martyred Intellectual Munier Chowdhury’s wife, translator and theatre activist Lily Chowdhury (93) breathed her last on March 2. Ekushey Padak-winning actor SM Mohsin (73) passed away on April 18 due to COVID-19, while Jahangirnagar University Drama and Dramatics Department co-founder, professor and playwright Dr Afsar Ahmed (60) died on October 9 due to cardiac arrest.
The month of October was a horrific month this year, as a handful of prominent personalities passed away on this month. Ekushey Padak winning veteran actor, director, playwright, and academic Dr Enamul Haque (77) breathed his last on October 11, renowned actor-playwright-director Kayes Chowdhury (74) passed away on October 21 and his student, television, film, and theatre actor Shamim Visti (55) died the very next day after suffering a heart attack. Due to COVID-19 related complications, veteran actor and current State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid’s elder brother Mahmud Sajjad passed away on October 24, at the age of 73.
Music
2021 snatched away many of the legendary personalities from the music industry in Bangladesh, starting with legendary music maestro and trainer of classical music, ustad Sanjib Dey (68) who passed away on January 28 following a cardiac arrest. Jane Alam, one of the last remaining pop legends, passed away on March 3 due to COVID-19, at the age of 65. A tragic road accident in Chattogram’s Mirshorai brutally took away the lives of renowned Percussionist Hanif Ahammed (41) and drummer Partha Guha (50) on March 13.
READ: National Professor Rafiqul Islam dies at 87
Ekushey Padak winning Rabindra Sangeet exponent Mita Haque (59) passed away on April 11 due to COVID-19, while National Film Award-winning music director Farid Ahmed (60) passed away on April 13 due to the same reason. Freedom fighter and Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra artiste Anup Bhattacharya (77) passed away on May 6, while noted lyricist Fazal-e-Khuda, known for writing the song "Salam Salam Hajar Salam" which boosted the spirit of Freedom Fighters during the 1971 Liberation War, died of COVID-19 on July 4 at the age of 81. This year, COVID-19 also snatched away another folk and pop legend, the “Gono Sangeet” pioneer Fakir Alamgir who passed away on July 23 at the age of 71.
Apart from all these legendary figures, some other renowned personalities also left the earth this year, leaving behind their families and admirers. Ekushey Padak winning veteran journalist-dramatist-poet Rafiqul Haque (85) ‘Dadubhai’ passed away on October 10; another Ekushey Padak winning late artist Qayyum Chowdhury's wife artist Tahera Khanam passed away at the age of 86 on November 1 and eminent British journalist Simon Dring, known for reporting the horrors of Bangladesh's War for Independence from Pakistan in 1971 and later changing the landscape of Bangladeshi television industry as the Managing Director of Ekushey Television, passed away on July 16 in Romania at the age of 76.
UNB remembers all these legendary figures with profound respect, for their unforgettable and influential contributions to their respective fields.