Renowned Bangladeshi actor Azizul Hakim, who has been suffering from COVID-19, was put on life support on Friday morning as his condition deteriorated.

The actor was admitted to Bangladesh Specialised Hospital in the capital on Thursday night with respiratory distress and was immediately shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). 

Director Chayanika Chowdhury, actor Omar Sani, playwright Masum Reza and more have confirmed the news on social media.

Hakim was severely sick with diarrhoea before testing positive for COVID-19.

Screenwriter and playwright Zeenat Hakim, wife of the actor was also diagnosed with COVID-19 along with their son Muhaimeen Redwan Hakim. They are currently in stable condition and getting treated at home.

Hakim was born in Cumilla on May 15, 1959. He obtained an MA in political science from Dhaka University.

He started his theatre career with the theatre group "Aranyak" in 1977. His first acted theatre play was 'Ora Kodom Ali'.

He received his breakthrough as a television actor in 1981 with BTV's Ekhaney Nongor. He debuted as a director on television with drama Ja Hariye Jay and on theatre with the play Pathor. Jol Porey Pata Norey (2005) has been his major and first drama serial on television, written by his wife Zeenat.

Hakim debuted in film with Mustafizur Rahman's Shonkhonil Karagar (1992), written by legendary litterateur Humayun Ahmed.

Also read: Quader’s life support removed as his condition improved: Physician

Popular Bangladeshi actress and producer Shomi Kaiser tied the knot for the third time on Friday. 

She got married to businessman Reza Amin Sumon. 

Director Chayanika Chowdhury, also a longtime friend of Shomi, has confirmed this news on her Facebook account through sharing pictures of the newlywed couple. 

"Congratulations to my friend Shomi Kaiser for your new life. Stay happy always, as you have always wanted to live a beautiful life. The name of Shomi's husband is Reza Amin Shumon. Stay happy and blessed, Love you so much" - Chayanika wrote in her Facebook post congratulating Shomi and Shumon on their marriage.

The 51-year-old Shomi Kaiser was married to Bangladeshi television director Ringo in 1999. However, they got divorced two years later. 

She then got married to Mohammad Arafat, a private university teacher in 2008. 

Daughter of martyred intellectual Shahidullah Kaiser and former Member of Parliament Panna Kaiser, Shomi started her career as a television actress in 1989 and became one of the versatile faces in the late 90's. She is also the niece of legendary Bangladeshi filmmaker Zahir Raihan.

Currently she is the Managing Director of Dhansiri Communications Ltd, an advertising and event management company. 

Actor Mohiuddin Bahar, best known for his comedic skits on popular magazine programme 'Ittyadi' passed away Monday morning at the age of 63.

His eldest son Moin Uddin informed about the actor's demise to the media.

Bahar had been suffering from various health complications including kidney and heart issues for a long time. He was taken to Ibrahim Diabetic Hospital in critical condition from his home in Dayaganj on early Monday. Doctors pronounced him dead when he was taken there.

The actor is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter, as well as many relatives and well-wishers. He will be buried at Dayaganj graveyard after Asr prayers today.

Mohiuddin Bahar was born on December 26, 1947 in Laxmipur village of Motbi Union in Feni. From his childhood, he started associating with drama organisations from his passion for acting. As a child artist, Bahar made his debut in BTV's children's series 'Rose Rose'.

His journey in theatre began with theatre team Nagarik in 1986. In his television career, he went on to work with many notable creators including Humayun Ahmed, Hanif Sanket, Gias Uddin Selim and more.

He earned widespread popularity through 'Ittyadi' in which he flamboyantly performed comedy skits in Noakhali’s local parlance for about 27 years, mocking various inconsistencies in the society.

He was also a government employee. Mohiuddin Bahar retired as a senior assistant secretary in 2005.

Read Also: Veteran actor Sadek Bachchu dies of COVID-19

“The Crown” has found its Princess Diana.

Elizabeth Debicki will play the Princess of Wales in seasons five and six of “The Crown,” the Netflix series announced Sunday.

Debicki will join a new cast for the series that includes Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth, Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret and Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip. Staunton succeeds Olivia Colman and Claire Foy in the role.

Emma Corrin is playing Diana on the drama’s upcoming fourth season, but Debicki will take on the part for what's sure to be the character's most dramatic chapters. Seasons five and six are expected to be the show's final seasons. No premiere date of season four has yet been announced.

“Princess Diana’s spirit, her words and her actions live in the hearts of so many,” Debicki said on Twitter. "It is my true privilege and honor to be joining this masterful series, which has had me absolutely hooked from episode one.”

Debicki, a 29-year-old Australian actress, is seen as a rising star after a breakout performance in Steve McQueen's “Widows." She also stars in Christopher Nolan's upcoming thriller “Tenet.” Other credits include “The Great Gatsby,” “The Burnt Orange Heresy” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.”

'Hasina, A Daughter's Tale', a docu-fiction, will be screened on Bangladesh Television and eight other private television channels on Friday marking the National Mourning Day.

The Center for Research and Information (CRI) on Thursday said the documentary will be screened by Independent TV at 10:50am, ATN News at 11pm, Channel I at 11:30am, ETV at 12pm, BTV and Ekattor(71) at 3pm, Bijoy TV at 5pm and Channel 24 at 5:45pm on Friday. 

Meanwhile, Machranga TV will screen it at 11am which will be repeated in the same channel at night (00:01am).

Radwan Mujib Siddiq and Nasrul Hamid Bipu of Center for Research and Information (CRI) produced the docu-fiction directed by Piplu Khan of Apple Box Films, while music by Debojyoti Mishra.

Edited by Navnita Sen, the cinematography of the movie was done by Sadik Ahmed.

The movie focused on the life of Sheikh Hasina before and after of the August 15, 1975.

Sheikh Hasina's personal and political life events were described in this documentary since her arrival in Dhaka with her family back in 1952.

The 15th August is the National Mourning Day of Bangladesh. On this day in 1975, the greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, along with most of his family members, was assassinated brutally by a cabal of military men.

Sheikh Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana, the two survivors of the August 15 carnage, were abroad in 1975.

Sheikh Hasina's return to home in 1981, rebuilding Awami League and other democratic events were highlighted in the documentary. 

Her intimacy with Bangabandhu, how she grew up and her commitment to politics were also highlighted in the documentary which was screened in many places at home and abroad.