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Group exhibition of late great Kalidas and his brothers begins on artist's 4th death anniversary
On the fourth death anniversary of the globally renowned painter and printmaker, the ‘Alluvial’ artist Kalidas Karmakar - an exclusive group art exhibition was inaugurated in the capital’s Safiuddin Shilpalay.
The exhibition showcases the artworks of Kalidas Karmakar who contributed to Bangladeshi art's development with his vibrant and captivating creations, alongside the artworks of his three brothers - Dilip K Karmakar, Proshanta Karmakar Buddha and Devdas Karmakar.
It began with Tagore songs by singer Shahidul Haque as a tribute to the revered artist, the exhibition was inaugurated on Wednesday with Rubana Haque, Vice Chancellor of the Asian University for Women, being the chief guest of the inauguration ceremony which was presided over by eminent thespian and cultural personality Ramendu Majumdar.
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US Embassy in Bangladesh Public Affairs Counselor Stephen Ibelli and Kids Tutorial Principal Farzana Ahmed joined as the special guests at the inauguration ceremony, alongside the brothers of the ‘Alluvial’ artist, and his admirers from different walks of life.
“When I was coming to this event today, I was constantly remembering how wonderful of a person Kali da (Kalidas Karmakar) was. I am fortunate to have many of his paintings, and he was such a majestic artist throughout his entire life,” Rubana Haque said at the event.
“More than 50 of his exhibitions were held in 70 countries, and his artworks were universal because they spoke on behalf of our aching hearts,” she added. US Embassy in Bangladesh Public Affairs Counselor Stephen Ibelli also said that many of Kalidas Karmakar’s artworks have been exhibited in the United States.”
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Kalidas Karmakar’s brother Proshanta Karmakar Buddha said, "Our elder brother, the artist Kalidas Karmakar, had wished to organize a joint painting exhibition with his three other brothers for a long time. Today, we all came together to fulfil his dream in his memory, marking his 4th anniversary."
A total of 63 paintings are being showcased in the exhibition. Among these, 22 paintings were made by artist Kalidas Karmakar, and the rest of the paintings are made by his three brothers - Dilip K Kumar, Proshanta Karmakar Buddha and Devdas Karmakar.
A maestro of printmaking especially viscosity printing, Kalidas Karmakar’s diverse artworks featuring metallic and other objects, handmade paper, and oil on canvas prints have been widely exhibited throughout South Asia, the Middle East, Europe, the United States and many other places across the world.
His maiden solo art exhibition was held at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on August 7, 1976.
Throughout his acclaimed career, he received multiple prestigious scholarships and fellowships including the Polish Government Scholarship in Graphic Art at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Art, Warsaw University; the French Government Superior Scholarship in Fine Arts for research in multicolour etching at Atelier-17, in Paris; Japan Foundation Fellowship on Japanese Woodblock Printing at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music; ICCR Special Scholarship for research in Contemporary Modern Sculpture, West Bengal Lalit Kala Academy Studio; and Asian Cultural Council New York, Fellowship with Artist Residency program in the US.
For his remarkable contribution to the Bangladeshi fine arts, Kalidas Karmakar was awarded the Shilpakala Padak in 2016 and the Ekushey Padak in 2018.
The exhibition will continue till October 22, open for visitors daily from 11 am to 8 pm.
Asiatic EXP joins hands with AB Kitchen to promote Ayub Bachchu’s songs
On the eve of the fifth death anniversary of Bangladesh’s iconic and one of the most beloved rockstars Ayub Bachchu, an exclusive initiative has been taken to preserve and promote the creations of the legendary music artiste, among the new generation of music lovers.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in this regard between AB Kitchen and Asiatic EXP on Tuesday.
As part of the partnership under the MoU, the songs of Ayub Bachchu will be recreated, new vocalists, guitarists, and drummers will be hunted, and concerts will be organised in memory of the late singer.
It will also cover fundraising for AB Kitchen and the setting up of a museum with guitars and other instruments used by the great musician.
From now on, permission needs to be taken from AB Kitchen and Asiatic 3sixty for releasing or using commercially any songs created by Ayub Bachchu and his band LRB.
The MoU was signed by AB Kitchen’s Chief Executive Director Ferdous Ayub Chandana and Group Managing Director of Asiatic 3sixty Iresh Zaker at the office of Asiatic EXP. Eminent cultural personality and Co-Chairperson of Asiatic 3sixty Sara Zaker was present at the signing ceremony.
“We have successfully come to a platform we dreamt of in five years after the death of Ayub Bachchu. We are greatly optimistic that his works will be recreated in a beautiful manner while carrying the legacy of Bachchu,” said Ferdous Ayub Chandana.
Iresh Zaker noted, “We will try to carry forward the legacy of the legendary musician so that the next generations get the taste of popular songs of Ayub Bachchu.”
Winners of 'Battle of the Bands' at Notre Dame College announced
The winners of the "Battle of the Bands" were announced at the 8th National Cultural Festival held at Notre Dame College in Dhaka.
Various competitions were the attractions of the festival organised by Notre Dame College Cultural Club.
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Among these, the band music competition "Battle of the Bands" took the spotlight.
The finale of the “Battle of the Bands” took place on Friday (October 14), the final day of the three-day festival.
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A total of 40 bands of school- and college-level students from all over the country participated in the competition.
After the preliminary selection, eight bands advanced to the final round. The "Battle of the Bands" was won by the band "Protocol". The second place went to "Adyantar" and the third place was won by "Nam Chhyara Band".
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Popular musicians AK Rahul, Naveed Ehsan, and Sagar Ahmed Chowdhury were the judges in the final episode of “Battle of the Bands”.
The rest of the finalists in this battle of the bands under-18s were - Escape, Earblues, Rhythmless, Ancora, and Sound Pollution.
Omar Sani signs deal for new film ‘Dead Body’
Actor Omar Sani has recently signed a significant acting deal for the upcoming movie 'Dead Body' by Md Iqbal.
Md Iqbal, shedding light on Omar Sani's distinctive appearance in the film, said, “I always strive to inject something innovative into my movies. This time, it's definitely a feature that will captivate the audience's interest. Given Omar Sani's return to the silver screen after a considerable hiatus, I've meticulously planned to showcase him in a manner that will leave a lasting impression on the audience.”
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“Sunny is not only a dear friend but also a cinematic icon to me. Hence, I wanted to present him in a way that would be a delightful surprise for his comeback,” he told UNB.
Apart from Omar Sani, the cast of 'Dead Body' includes other actors such as Shamal Mawla, Rashed Mamun Apu, and Mishti Jahan.
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The movie commenced its shooting schedule on October 10.
Abbasuddin Ahmed played an important role in popularising Bhawaiya songs: KM Khalid
Marking the occasion of the upcoming 122 birth anniversary of legendary Bhawaiya singer Abbasuddin Ahmed, State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid on Sunday stated that Abbasuddin Ahmed and his family played a significant role in popularising Bhawaya songs, which is why the eminent singer is revered as the 'Bhawaiya Samrat' (Emperor of Bhawaiya songs).
He said that Abbasuddin Ahmed and his family members including his son Mustafa Zaman Abbasi, daughter Ferdausi Rahman and granddaughter Nashid Kamal played a leading role in spreading this folk genre throughout the country.
On Sunday, the State Minister spoke as the chief guest at the cultural program and certificate distribution ceremony among the students who completed various courses on music at the Abbasuddin Sangeet Academy.
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The event was organized to mark the upcoming 122nd birth anniversary of the ‘Emperor of Bhawaiya’ and the 35th anniversary of Abbasuddin Sangeet Academy at Gulshan Ladies Club in the capital on Sunday afternoon.
To spread the majestic creations of Abbasuddin Ahmed among the new generation, special seminars and discussion events are organized every year marking the birth and death anniversaries of the Bhawaiya Emperor at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and Bangladesh National Museum, the State Minister mentioned.
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“We have already declared Kurigram as 'Bhawaiya city' for the promotion and spread of Bhawaiaya songs. The Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was inspired by the great singer Abbasuddin Ahmed, to join the language movement - which is mentioned in Bangabandhu's book, ‘The Unfinished Memoirs’,” Khalid said at the event.
He also stated that the Ministry of Cultural Affairs will take necessary steps to provide annual grants to the 'Abbasuddin Sangeet Academy' established in the name of folk music pioneer Abbasuddin Ahmed, adding that the academy will be included in the list of institutions under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
Chaired by Abbasuddin Ahmed’s only daughter and eminent singer Ferdausi Rahman, the event was joined by renowned singer-researcher-author-musicologist and Abbasuddin Ahmed’s youngest son Mustafa Zaman Abbasi and Abbasuddin Ahmed’s granddaughter, eminent vocalist, writer and professor of demography Dr Nashid Kamal as the special guests and the key speakers.
Play upholds two Rajasthani passions
The first show of the theatrical production ‘Kathputli —Dances and Puppets of Rajasthan’ was held on Friday at National Music and Dance Auditorium, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka.
The second show will be held at the same place Saturday at 6 pm. The event is jointly organised by Alliance Française de Dhaka and Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre.
Produced by Théâtre en Tête and directed by Zazie Hayoun, the performers at this production are Sikandar Khan, Ishwar Mathur, Sushila, Vijay Bhatt, and Puran Bhat.
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'Kathputli, Dances and Puppets of Rajasthan' combines these two art forms: dance and puppetry. Through the performance, the dancer, at the front of the stage, is the link to the audience.
In the first part, the story takes place in a small village in the north of India, at daybreak; many scenes of daily life are presented through picturesque characters: the betel merchant, the barber, the shoemaker, the ironer, the water carrier and the lovers.
The second part is a change of scenery, which comes directly from the Kathputli tradition: it is set in the palace of the emperor Akbar, who also used puppets for his own pleasure.
All the maharajas are invited to a performance during which several attractions are offered: a snake charmer, dancers who perform an elaborate choreography, a magician who juggles with his head, an elephant tamer and many other distractions that will brighten up the party of the greatest monarch of India.
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This show is the result of a meeting between a French director and Indian artists. It is a simple yet sophisticated entertainment, where dances and puppets create a poetic and colourful universe, which will enchant young and old alike.
Liaquat Ali Lucky, director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bakhshi Mohd. Tayab, commercial manager, Qatar Airways Bangladesh, Pranay Kumar Verma, Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh and Marie MASDUPUY, France ambassador to Bangladesh, attended the event, sponsored by Qatar Airways, as the special guests on Friday.
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Seminar, film screening to commemorate late film personalities Syed Salahuddin Zaki and Mahbub Alam
The Federation of Film Societies of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy are set to organise a commemoration event on Friday, in memory of the recently deceased eminent filmmaker, film educator and one of the pioneers of the Bangladesh Film Parliament movement Syed Salahuddin Zaki and Bangladesh's prominent film critic, writer, film parliament activist and organiser Mahbub Alam.
This event will be held on Friday at 5 PM at the National Art Gallery Auditorium of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA).
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‘Ghuddi’, the popular and classic Bangladeshi golden-age cinema starring Suborna Mustafa and Raisul Islam Asad and directed by Syed Salahuddin Zaki, will be screened after the memorial discussion.
Legendary Bangladeshi filmmaker Syed Salahuddin Zaki passed away on September 18. He was an eminent literary worker of the sixties. ‘Kaak’, edited by him, was a popular little magazine of that era.
Zaki played the role of one of the pioneers in the country's film parliament movement after independence. He was one of the pioneers in the Bangladesh Film Parliament movement and was directly involved in the film parliament movement of the country for more than 50 years.
He served several times as the president of the Federation of Film Societies of Bangladesh, a joint platform of film societies in the country. He has played an important role in the expansion of film education in the country.
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Just two days before the death of Syed Salahuddin Zaki, the country's leading film critic, writer, film parliamentarian and organiser Mahbub Alam passed away suddenly on the morning of September 16.
A devoted film activist from the sixties till his death, the eminent film parliament activist Mahbub Alam made an important contribution to the film parliament movement of Bangladesh and the film criticism literature of the country.
The Federation of Film Societies of Bangladesh president Architect Lailun Nahar Shemi, veteran actor Raisul Islam Asad, eminent filmmakers Mosihuddin Shaker and Morshedul Islam, film researcher Anupam Hayat, film critic and writer Kaizer Chowdhury will join the event, alongside friends, colleagues and family members of Syed Salahuddin Zaki and Mahbub Alam.
Open to all, the event will be presided over by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky and hosted by the Federation of Film Societies of Bangladesh General Secretary Belayat Hossain Mamun.
2-day programme marking SM Sultan's death anniversary underway at BSA
October 10 is the 29th death anniversary of world-renowned artist SM Sultan.
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) has organised a two-day art exhibition, art camp, children's letter writing exhibition, palagan, puppet drama exhibition and discussion meeting from October 9-10.
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On the first day of the two-day event, a wreath was placed at the portrait of artist SM Sultan at the National Chitrashala Bhaban of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy at 4pm on Monday. After this, the exhibition was officially inaugurated with the artworks of artist SM Sultan and paintings of children of children's paradise.
Liaquat Ali Lucky, director general of the academy inaugurated the programme as chief guest. Later, he visited the gallery with children. He highlighted the life of artist SM Sultan and various aspects of his paintings to the children.
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Forty paintings of world-renowned artists are being displayed at the National Art Gallery. Apart from this, paintings of various artists of the country have also been included in the exhibition. The exhibition will run from October 9 to 17.
After the opening of the exhibition, a brief discussion session was held. Syeda Mahbuba Karim, director of the Fine Arts Department, delivered the welcome speech. "Artist SM Sultan did not paint on the canvas on which we usually paint. He painted a canvas with a special process with rural mats. He made his own colour – from the soil, the bark and leaves of the trees.”
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"Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy organizes various programs every year to keep him in heart. By organising this event, we remember him more and more,” she said.
"We are always looking for our places of pride, those places have been created by great artists like artist SM Sultan. We have to nurture and practice those places of glory. No one else has seen the nature of rural Bengal, the rural society, the way he saw the farmers,” said the BSA DG.
The academy's children's music team performed the group anthem at the beginning and end of the discussion. Later, the documentary “Adam Surat” on SM Sultan was screened.
Outgoing Kosovar envoy calls on state minister for cultural affairs
The outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to Bangladesh Guner Ureya met the State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid at his Secretariat office on Sunday.
The discussion focused on strengthening the cultural interchange between Bangladesh and Kosovo by accelerating the execution of the cultural cooperation agreement between the two nations.
The State Minister said that the draft cultural cooperation agreement between Bangladesh and Kosovo was sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 27, 2023, for the Kosovo government's opinion after receiving the Law Ministry's vetting.
Subsequently, the Government of Kosovo sent the draft agreement incorporating their views through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which the Ministry of Cultural Affairs accepted on 20 September 20, 2023.
Khalid said the draft proposed minor amendments to Article 12 of the Agreement by Kosovo. He added that measures will be taken to send the amendments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after receiving vetting from the Ministry of Law.
He directed the relevant officials of the ministry to complete the process as soon as possible and take the necessary measures to sign the agreement.
The outgoing Ambassador of Kosovo expressed sincere gratitude to the State Minister for Cultural Affairs for the essential cooperation during his responsibilities in Bangladesh, as well as for taking the necessary initiative to sign the agreement rapidly.
He said that since there is no embassy of Bangladesh in Kosovo, diplomatic activities are going on through the embassy of Bangladesh in Berlin, Germany. He wished the state minister good health and all-round success.
Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Subrata Bhowmik, Private Secretary to the State Minister Mohammad Altaf Hossain, Ayesha Siddika, Deputy Secretary Ayesha Siddika, Executive Assistant of the Kosovo Embassy in Dhaka Akhand Surid, and others were in present during the meeting.
3rd Bangladesh Film Festival illuminates Colombo
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Tareq Mohammad Ariful Islam has inaugurated the third Bangladesh Film Festival in Colombo.
He highlighted the resurgence of Bangladeshi cine culture in recent times in the hand of a new generation of talented film directors who are bringing in many international accolades.
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The envoy said such film festivals would foster cultural ties between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
He expressed hope that due to socio-cultural affinities of two countries, Sri Lankan audience would be able to connect deeply with the essence of those movies.
An impressive line up four more contemporary Bangladeshi movies will be screened during the weekend.
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Among them, “Raat Jaga Phool” and “Nona Joker Kabbo” were scheduled to be screened on October 7 respectively at 3:30 pm and 6 pm at the same venue, while “Damal” (at 3:30pm) and “No Dorai” (6pm) will be screened on October 8.
This 3rd version of the festival builds upon the success of the 1st and 2nd editions held in April 2014 and March 2018. This is a part of Bangladesh High Commission's efforts to strengthen cultural relations through cinema.
Inauguration of the 3rd Bangladesh Film Festival unfolded last evening at the prestigious Tharangani Theatre of Sri Lankan National Film Corporation with the screening of internationally acclaimed movie “Rehana Maryam Noor” directed by Abdullah Mohammad Saad. Bangladesh High Commission in Sri Lanka is organizing the Film Festival.
A sizeable cinema crowd including renowned personalities of Sri Lankan cinema and cine connoisseurs braced the heavy rain in Colombo to experience the taste of Bangladeshi movie, said the Bangladesh High Commission in Colombo on Saturday.
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Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayaka, Prof G L Peiris, Patali Champika Ranawaka and Heads of Diplomatic Missions were among the high dignitaries present.
Renowned actress Swarna Mallawarachchi who is known as the Golden Star of Sri Lankan cinema, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Eminent film critic and director Anomaa Rajakaruna as the curator of the festival introduced the movie to the audience before the screening.