United News of Bangladesh

AUST EEE Day 2026, the flagship semester fest of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) at Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST), will be held Tuesday at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), bringing together students, faculty members, alumni and industry leaders. Organised by Soroikko-50 and co-organised by Trayottik-55 under the AUST EEE Society, the fest will begin at 1 pm on Oct 6. The event aims to create a platform where engineering education, emerging technology, industry and culture come together, while providing students with opportunities to showcase their talents and interact directly with corporate and technology-sector leaders. The organisers said the fest will also help students gain exposure to real-world technologies and career perspectives as they prepare to enter the workforce. The Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Chery and the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Neural Semiconductor are expected to attend the programme and deliver speeches. The Vice-Chancellor of AUST, professors and faculty members, current students and distinguished alumni will also attend the event. Around 2,000 participants are expected to join the fest. AUST EEE Day will feature various student performances alongside activities aimed at strengthening ties among students, faculty members and alumni. The event also seeks to encourage young engineers to explore innovation in areas including automotive technology, semiconductors and sustainable energy. Chery is the title sponsor, Neural Semiconductor the powered-by partner and Superstar Group the driven-by partner. Gigabyte, Polar Ice Cream and Omera Solar are also among the sponsors. As part of the fest, Chery is showcasing its vehicles at the AUST campus on Oct 4 and 5. The showcase will continue at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Oct 6. The fest will conclude with a live concert by popular singer and composer Habib Wahid. United News of Bangladesh (UNB) is the media partner of AUST EEE Day 2026.

The casting of Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep to voice Aslan the lion in Greta Gerwig's upcoming adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia has sparked controversy among conservative Christian commentators, even though the public has yet to see a single frame of the film. The critics have expressed concern over a female actor voicing Aslan, a central character in the seven-book fantasy series by British Christian author C.S. Lewis. Published in the 1950s, the books portray the lion as male, with a magnificent mane, and Aslan is widely regarded as a literary representation of Jesus Christ. Filmmakers often make changes when adapting literary works for the screen. Gerwig, for instance, has moved the setting of The Magician's Nephew from around 1900 to the 1950s. However, the decision to cast Streep does not necessarily mean Aslan will be portrayed as female. Conservative Christian critics argue that even the possibility of presenting a figure associated with Christ as anything other than male goes beyond artistic freedom. They point to the Bible and ancient Christian creeds, which refer to God as the Father and Jesus as the Son of God. Seth Udinsky, writing for the evangelical news website Christian Post, described the casting as an attempt to undermine Christian symbols. He also accused Gerwig of making Aslan transgender, citing a promotional image showing the lion with rainbow-coloured whiskers. The casting has also drawn mixed reactions on social media, including numerous comments and counterarguments under Netflix's Instagram post announcing the decision. Some scholars and admirers of Lewis's work have urged people to wait until the film is released before reaching a conclusion. Kat Coffin, a New York-based writer and Lewis scholar, said she had questions about the casting but was more troubled by the intense hostility towards the possibility of a feminine portrayal of a figure representing God. The film is scheduled for theatrical release in February. Gerwig seeks a voice with wisdom and wonder Gerwig has not directly addressed the controversy over Aslan's gender. However, she has explained the qualities she wanted in the actor voicing the character. “I wanted someone who was profound but not pretentious, who had gravitas but not morose self-seriousness,” Gerwig said. She said she wanted a voice capable of conveying emotional depth, sadness, joy and delight. She also sought someone older than 70 who could bring the wisdom of experience while retaining a child's sense of wonder. Gerwig said she first read The Magician's Nephew as a child and fell in love with its story and magical world. The director is known for bringing feminist perspectives to films such as Barbie and Little Women, the latter also based on a classic work of children's literature. A report in film magazine Empire has added to the debate, saying Gerwig drew inspiration from pop artist David Bowie, known for his gender-fluid image, when developing Aslan's appearance, including the lion's differently coloured eyes and bold red-striped face. Published in 1955, The Magician's Nephew follows two children, Digory and Polly, who travel between parallel worlds through magic. They eventually reach the newly created land of Narnia but inadvertently bring along the evil witch Jadis. In this and later books in the series, Aslan guides young characters in their struggle against evil. Critics question changes to Christian themes Ted Baehr, founder and publisher of Movieguide, which advises Christian families on film and television content, said casting a woman to voice Aslan challenged Christian teachings about the nature of God. He acknowledged Gerwig's directing abilities but questioned whether she fully understood the importance of the character to many Christians. Although Lewis said his Narnia books were not allegories, they contain strong parallels with biblical stories and Christian beliefs, Baehr said. He argued that the series could not be adapted in the same way as Greek mythology in Christopher Nolan's recent film The Odyssey. “The Gospel is not a myth,” he said. The controversy reflects the strong connection many Christians, particularly evangelicals, feel with Lewis, whose fiction and non-fiction works promoted Christian teachings. The Narnia series has reportedly sold 120 million copies worldwide since the publication of its first volume 75 years ago this month. Many Christian readers feel a strong personal attachment to the stories because of their religious themes. Author Christin Ditchfield Lazo, who has written books about Lewis, said the stories had deeply influenced millions of readers, particularly those who value their spiritual messages. She encouraged Christians to wait until the film's release before judging the casting decision. “There's a huge difference between a woman voicing a male character and the director changing the gender of the character,” she said, adding that the decision could raise concerns but its implications would not be clear until audiences watched the film. She also noted that actors have long played or voiced characters of different genders, from Shakespearean theatre to modern animated productions. Lewis family expresses support for Gerwig Several evangelical Christians embraced the film adaptations of the first three Narnia books released in the early 2000s, in which actor Liam Neeson provided Aslan's deep, masculine voice. Coffin noted that literary works have sometimes portrayed God through feminine characteristics. She pointed out that Aslan also appears as a lamb in the Narnia series, with a voice Lewis described as “sweet milky”. A statement from the family of Lewis's late wife, Joy Davidman Gresham, praised Gerwig's enthusiasm for the books. “We saw this enthusiasm during our visit to the set in London,” the statement, provided by Netflix, said. The family expressed excitement about working with the director and production team on the film and future projects. The C.S. Lewis Company, which holds the rights to Lewis's intellectual property and is producing the film, also welcomed Gerwig's approach. The company said it was deeply moved by the director's commitment to Lewis's fictional world and her efforts to bring joy, emotion and genuine affection for the story to The Magician's Nephew.

Musician and actor Pritom Hasan and actress-model Shahtaj Monira Hashem have announced that they have mutually decided to end their marriage and move forward with a divorce. The couple made the announcement in identical posts on their respective official social media handles on Saturday night, saying they had reached the decision after much thoughtful consideration. “Shahtaj and I have mutually and amicably decided to end our marriage after ten years together,” Pritom wrote in his post. A similar statement was also shared by Shahtaj. They said they remain grateful for the memories they shared and continue to care for each other, but gradually realised that they were “better off separate ways due to lack of mutual understanding.” “With the support from our families, we are moving forward with a divorce,” they said. The couple also requested their friends, colleagues and the media to respect their privacy during the transition. Pritom and Shahtaj tied the knot at a private ceremony at a five-star hotel in Sreemangal on Oct 28, 2022, after keeping their relationship largely private for several years. Their wedding was attended by close friends and family members. The couple had first met while working on the music video for Pritom's song ‘Jadukor’. Pritom later said that they had been close friends before their relationship developed, while reports at the time noted that they had kept their relationship away from public attention for around five years. Pritom, son of late singer Khalid Hasan Milu and younger brother of singer Protic Hasan, is known for his work as a singer, composer and actor. His acting credits include Nuhash Humayun's ‘700 Taka’, Adnan Al Rajeev's ‘YouTumor’ and Chorki's ‘Araal’. Shahtaj is an actress, model and singer who has appeared in television dramas, films and music videos. She made her mainstream acting debut through television and was also part of the anthology film ‘Iti, Tomari Dhaka’. The couple concluded their joint statement by thanking everyone for their understanding and support, while asking for “privacy and grace” as they navigate their next chapter.

Bangladeshi author Shazia Omar launched her third novel, Being Water, at Bookworm in Shahabuddin Park, Gulshan-2 on Saturday, closing the weekend literary festival organised by Bookworm in collaboration with HerStory. The launch featured a conversation with Professor Firdous Azim, Chair of the Department of English and Humanities at BRAC University, who also moderated the launches of Omar's first novel, Like a Diamond in the Sky, and second novel, Dark Diamond, in 2016. The conversation brought together the writer and the academic who had followed Omar's literary journey from her debut to her latest work, published by Om Books International in June 2026. Being Water follows Nora, a British Bengali woman struggling with the aftermath of a family rupture, as well as difficulties in her career and relationships. On her therapist's advice, Nora travels to Galle Fort in Sri Lanka, hoping to distance herself from the turmoil in her life. But the journey gradually forces her to confront memories of the past. Set against Galle's colonial architecture, cultural history and layered relationship with trade, empire and migration, the novel explores grief, art, inheritance and the body's memory. The Ramayana runs beneath the narrative as a recurring presence, drawing on themes of captivity, waiting and release. "I wanted to write about the kind of grief that lingers," said Omar. "Nora goes to Sri Lanka to get away from herself, which is the one journey nobody completes. Healing isn't gentle. It breaks you before it remakes you." Omar's debut novel, Like a Diamond in the Sky, was published by Zubaan-Penguin, while Dark Diamond was published by Bloomsbury in 2016. She also writes the column Kundalini Rising for The Daily Star and is the author of Intentional Smile, a guide to positive living, and two children's books. She has edited two short story anthologies by Bangladeshi authors and led writing communities Writers Block and Pen Warriors for several years. An Ashtanga yoga teacher with a background in psychology, Omar has worked at Lehman Brothers and the World Bank. She is also the founder of Flow Fest, a wellbeing and cultural platform that has reached more than 40,000 people across Bangladesh. Being Water was published by Om Books International in June 2026 and is available at Bookworm and leading bookshops across South Asia.

A growing line of visitors at a sculpture on Prague's historic Charles Bridge is giving the 14th-century landmark a new attraction: recreating an iconic photograph of British band Depeche Mode. Tourists have long visited the statue of St John of Nepomuk on the bridge over the Vltava River. But many are now stopping at a nearby Pietà sculpture to pose like Depeche Mode members Dave Gahan and Martin Gore in a famous 1988 photograph. The band first visited Prague in March 1988, when the city was part of communist Czechoslovakia, for a landmark concert. They returned in November with Dutch photographer Anton Corbijn, who photographed them around the city. The pictures were later published in his book, “Depeche Mode: Strangers.” One black-and-white photograph showing Gahan and Gore beside the Pietà sculpture has become particularly popular among fans. Fans have been visiting the location for years, but interest appears to have grown after photos of a large gathering on the bridge during the band's Prague concerts in 2024 circulated online. The recreation has now gained millions of views on social media. Jorge Sanchez, from California, visited the spot with his wife after learning about the photograph. “I remember seeing the picture from way back,” he said. “Then I looked it up and learned that it was here, so I wanted to make sure I took a picture.” Austrian visitors Maria Hofer and Lara Hinteregger said they discovered the trend on Pinterest and TikTok. “We just saw this on Pinterest or on TikTok, and it's kind of one of the most famous pictures you can take here in Prague,” Hofer said. Hinteregger said they also liked Depeche Mode's music and felt it matched the atmosphere of Prague. The nearby statue of St John Nepomuk commemorates the 14th-century priest who was tortured and killed after refusing to reveal the queen's confession. His body was thrown into the Vltava River from Charles Bridge. Local tradition says touching the engravings on the statue's pedestal brings good luck and ensures a return to Prague.

Rapper Rick Ross was arrested in Miami Beach early Thursday and charged with battery after a woman he was living with told police that he assaulted her, authorities said. Ross, whose legal name is William Roberts II, turned himself in at the Miami Beach Police Station, two days after the woman reported the alleged incident to police. According to online court records, Ross faces a felony charge of battery by strangulation and a misdemeanor battery charge. Ross, 50, has denied the allegations through his attorney, Steve Sadow, who said the rapper was being wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend whose motives were unclear. “The ex did not even file a police report until a month after the claimed incident allegedly took place,” Sadow said in a statement. “Mr. Roberts is innocent and has pled not guilty to the charges.” Sadow asked Ross' supporters and the public not to prejudge the case and to allow the legal process to continue. Ross was released from jail later Thursday after posting a $5,000 cash bond, court records showed. His arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 22. According to a police report, the woman told Miami Beach detectives that she had been living with Ross on Aug. 28 when he accused her of cheating on him and allegedly struck her several times. She also alleged that Ross choked her using the collar of her shirt and pushed her into a wall. She said she eventually left the home and returned later, after Ross had left, to collect her belongings. Ross pleaded no contest in 2017 to an aggravated assault charge stemming from a 2015 incident at his suburban Atlanta mansion. He was accused of forcing a man into a guesthouse and beating him with a handgun. Under Georgia's first-offender program, a court later issued an order exonerating Ross of guilt on the felony charge, according to court records. Ross, a longtime South Florida resident, rose to fame in 2006 with his debut single “Hustlin'.” He became a major figure in Southern hip-hop during the 2000s, when Atlanta and Houston were among the genre's main centers. “Hustlin'” was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and led to a bidding war before Ross signed with Def Jam Records, then headed by Jay-Z. His debut album, “Port of Miami,” also went platinum and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It was followed by several successful albums, including “Trilla” in 2008 and “Deeper Than Rap” in 2009. Ross has received nine Grammy Award nominations. In 2008, he founded Maybach Music Group, which helped launch or expand the careers of artists including Wale, Meek Mill and French Montana. His latest album, “Set In Stone,” was released in July.

Singer Babul Supriyo has recalled his 2005 disagreement with Sonu Nigam and compared it with the earlier dispute between legendary singers Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi over music royalties. Supriyo and Nigam had a heated exchange at music director Aadesh Srivastava's birthday party at Mumbai's Sun-n-Sand Hotel in Juhu in 2005. What began as a discussion about music royalties eventually turned into an argument. In a recent interview with SCREEN, Supriyo said similar differences had once emerged between Mangeshkar and Rafi over the same issue. "A similar fallout happened even between Lata Mangeshkar and Rafi Sahab; it was over the same thing," he said, adding that the issue should now be left in the past. Supriyo said older musicians are helping singers secure better earnings and that music companies have also recognized the importance of royalties. He recalled that singers previously had royalty agreements and said he still receives royalties from his HMV contracts for albums released in 1998-99. However, he said payments were generally linked to successful songs and depended on what music companies agreed to pay. He said artists who had only one or two hit songs often did not receive royalties. He also recalled refusing to give up his share of earnings from live shows despite pressure from some music companies, saying the decision cost him several songs. Supriyo said the music industry's revenue model has changed significantly with the rise of digital platforms, even after CDs and cassettes declined. He added that his relationship with Nigam is now good and praised Nigam, Anup Jalota, Shaan and other senior singers for their efforts. Regarding the Lata-Rafi dispute, a biography of Rafi says differences over royalty payments on their duets led the two singers to stop recording together for around two to three years in the early 1960s. According to Mohammed Rafi: My Abba - A Memoir, Mangeshkar wanted royalty payments from producers, while Rafi believed singers should not receive royalties after being paid their agreed fees. The two eventually reconciled after music director Jaikishen helped resolve their differences. Their first duet after the dispute was recorded for the film Palkon Ki Chhaaon Mein. Source: NDTV

Authorities in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu on Tuesday gave singer Na Ying a rare exemption after she performed an unapproved song at a weekend concert, drawing fresh attention to China’s strict controls over the entertainment industry. Songs and other content used in live performances, including stand-up comedy, must be approved by local authorities in advance. Artists who break the rules can face fines, bans from future performances and restrictions on public appearances. The Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism said Na’s performance was a short part of an audience interaction rather than a full performance of the song. Therefore, it did not require additional approval. Na, one of China’s best-known female singers, performed “Curved Moon” at her concert in Chengdu on Saturday to remember fellow singer Liu Huan, who died the previous day. “I want to sing a song he sang before on this stage, to pay tribute to him,” Na told the audience, according to videos shared on social media. Dressed in black, she appeared emotional as she sang. Some social media users described the performance as an “expensive tribute,” praising Na while expressing concern that she could be fined. Liu, one of China’s most prominent musicians for nearly four decades, died Friday at the age of 63, according to an obituary published Sunday by the University of International Business and Economics. Liu was a music history professor at the university for more than three decades before retiring. He also performed the theme song of the 2008 Beijing Olympics with British soprano Sarah Brightman during the opening ceremony. Brightman described Liu as an “amazing talent and a true gentleman” and said he would be greatly missed in posts on Facebook and X on Sunday. The Chengdu decision came several weeks after authorities in the central Chinese city of Wuhan fined a prominent comedian for changing the lyrics of a patriotic song during a performance.

A Turkish court on Monday sentenced comedian Deniz Goktas to more than 19 months in prison for insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and religious values, but released him pending an appeal. Goktas, 32, had been in custody since July 3 after videos of his comedy routine circulated online. In the performance, he referred to Erdogan as a "dictator." The court convicted him of insulting the president and religious values, handing him a combined sentence of 19 months and 10 days. During his defense, which prompted laughter in the Istanbul courtroom, Goktas said he stood by a joke in which he described Erdogan as having developed from a "shy dictator" into one who was "confident in his identity." He argued that political satire had previously been tolerated in Turkey and that laws concerning insults had not changed. "What has changed? Fragile leaders who can't handle jokes or criticism," he said, according to remarks published by Birgun and other opposition-supporting media outlets. Goktas also said none of his jokes had led to complaints until excerpts were taken out of context and shared on social media. His comedy show, "Dead Sea," was recorded in Istanbul in June and received more than 9.5 million views after being uploaded to YouTube. The court was told that 185 complaints had been filed through a reporting system operated by Erdogan's office. Goktas was arrested after returning from a vacation and held at Karatepe high-security prison in Tekirdag province, west of Istanbul. Erdogan has been in power for more than two decades, during which critics say restrictions on freedom of expression have increased. Journalists and government critics regularly face investigations, detention and prosecution. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Erdogan's main political rival, has been imprisoned since March last year and is facing trial on corruption charges. Hundreds of mayors and other officials from Turkey's main opposition party are also facing corruption prosecutions. The party's leader was removed by a court order, moves critics describe as attempts to weaken the opposition ahead of the next elections. The Erdogan government maintains that Turkish courts operate independently and without political interference.

Actress Keya Payel believes she will eventually get married and when it happens, it could happen all of a sudden. Recently on July 15, the actress created a buzz by posting a photo with actor Arifin Shuvoo on her verified Facebook account with the words ‘Happily Married’. Many assumed she had secretly tied the knot, but it was later revealed to be the announcement of her first web film, Chorki Original ‘Happily Married’. Directed by Zahid Preetam and produced by Chorki, with Chabial as co-producer, the film under the ‘Ministry of Love’ project is scheduled to premiere on Chorki at midnight on October 7. The release announcement has once again drawn attention to the film, with many viewers expressing excitement in the comments. Some fans have also jokingly asked when Payel herself will actually become ‘happily married’ or make such an announcement on social media. Payel did not shy away from the personal question. She said she would certainly get married and would be happy when she did. “I believe in destiny. So, let’s see when it happens. It will happen when it is written in my fate, and everyone will know about it. But for some reason, I feel it might happen all of a sudden,” she said. For now, however, Payel is more focused on her work. Alongside acting in dramas, she is busy with endorsements and fashion runways. She is also scheduled to travel abroad in early October and plans to return towards the end of the month. Payel has been receiving offers for films and web films for quite some time, but she said she had been waiting for a role and story that would allow audiences to see her differently from her regular television work. “I have received many offers for films and web films. I can especially talk about web films. I have been receiving offers since web films started in Bangladesh, but I have always felt that I wanted to work in a character and a story where people could see me differently,” she said. “As I regularly work in dramas, I wanted audiences to see a different Payel when I worked in a film or web film. From that perspective, I felt ‘Happily Married’ was a film where audiences would be able to see me differently,” she added. Payel also praised the film's team, saying she had a very positive experience working with them. “The team of ‘Happily Married’ was very active and cooperative. I really enjoyed working with them and felt very comfortable. Especially our director Jahid Preetam, who is very humble. Overall, it was a very good experience for me,” she said. The film stars Arifin Shuvoo opposite Payel. His involvement also encouraged her to take on the project, she said. According to Payel, Shuvoo has the qualities and on-set presence expected of a leading actor. “Shuvoo bhai is very sincere, professional, quiet and helpful. At first, I was wondering whether I would be able to do it because he is senior and has so much experience. But while working with him, I never felt that difference. I really enjoyed working with him,” she said. Expressing her excitement about her first web film, Payel urged her fans to watch it and share their views. “As ‘Happily Married’ is releasing on October 8, I am very excited. It is my first web film, and the story is also very good," Keya Payel said. "I want my fans to watch it and then share me their opinions. And of course, I have brought something different for my fans this time. They will be able to see a special Payel,” she said.