In this exclusive interview, the Cultural Adviser opens up about the journey so far— the personal deliberations that preceded his appointment, the professional risks he knowingly took, and the vision he holds for Bangladesh’s cultural future. Yet, behind the sharp public figure, we find a man who still misses the intimacy of the film set—where the only politics involved were those of plot and character.
For the role of Ali, director Adnan Al Rajeev had been searching for a certain kind of presence — an innocent face, someone with long hair and eyes expressive enough to speak volumes without uttering a word. “They auditioned around 40 people for the part,” Al Amin shared. “But they weren’t looking for someone to perform. They wanted someone who could simply be Ali. And they saw that in me.”
Since childhood, Sarika Sabah has immersed herself in the world of art, taking classical dance lessons and specialising in Kathak. Over time, her dedication to dance grew, yet a deeper desire began to burn within her—a dream to one day find her place among the stars. She began her journey in the entertainment industry with TVCs in 2019, while she was a second-year CSE student at North South University, and quickly rose to prominence, winning hearts with her portrayal of Jhumur in Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Raz’s popular mega serial “Family Crisis”.
Actress Nishat Priom, who plays Annie Rozario, shares an inside look at what went into the making of "Fyakra".
The singer has stepped beyond her folk roots to explore a more diverse musical direction, beginning with her latest release “Chol Preme Pure Jai” — a chill step number whose lyrics, tune, and composition have been handled by Autumnal Moon. Released under the banner of G Series, the track marks a refreshing shift in Dora’s journey as an artiste.
Some songs don’t just trend—they take over. One such track is “Chand Mama”, from the film ”Borbaad”, which didn’t just climb the YouTube Music trending list once, but soared to the top twice and is still continuing to evoke emotions even after a month.
There’s no arrogance in his voice when he says it — just the quiet certainty of someone who knows that the real magic lies not in the destination, but in the journey itself. “And right now, for me, that journey is just beginning,” he concludes.
Among the most featured actors, Khairul Basar stands out, starring in 15 projects that are being released one after another. So far, seven have premiered, including “Golper Naam Maya” directed by Shetu Arif, “Shohore Joto Rong” by Syed Shakil, “Manush Ki Bolbe” by Ashikur Rahman, “Payel” by Sayful Hafiz Khan, and “Jodi Amar How” by Serniabat Shawon, among others, while others are on the line.
The 33rd Convention of the Federation of Bangladeshi Associations in North America (FOBANA) was held at Nassau Coliseum, USA, recently. Fuad and Friends (FNF) performed at the event for the first time. In an exclusive interview with The Daily Star, Fuad talks about his experience at the event.
International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT) is one of the first private universities in Bangladesh, founded by the late Dr Alimullah Miyan. The university started its journey in 1991, in Dhanmondi. However, in 2005, IUBAT’s campus was shifted to Uttara, on about 5.5 acres of land in Sector 10, with a beautiful view. The green courtyard of the university consists of a lake, an open basketball ground and a large field bedded with grass.
Arif Ahmed’s short film, Paradise Nest, won the award for Best Film on Nature/Environment at the 17th Calcutta International Cult Film Festival. The film was screened at Italy’s Cefalù Film Festival, India’s International Festival of Short Films on Culture and Tourism, and
Mastul Foundation was established in 2013 by Kazi Reaz Rahman, a student of International Relations from University of Dhaka.
The British Council Cultural Centre, in partnership with Komola Collective, worked on Aleya Twist, a modern day Bengali adaptation of the celebrated English novel, Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens, as a part of a three-week project.
Team Positive Bangladesh, consisting of eight students, won the Peer to Peer Facebook Global Digital Challenge Spring 2019, beating 500 university campaigns all around the world. The event was held in Brussels this year.
Siam Hussain Shimul was admitted to JAAGO Foundation’s school in Rayerbazar when he was six. At the age of 16, he has earned a two-year scholarship at the renowned United World College (UWC) in New Mexico, USA.
We are apprised of the sufferings and hardships of women in our society. While there is an add-on to those who belong to the minority, for them the roads to success are always bedded with thorns. Sonu Rani Das belongs to one such group. She, beyond all the
How often do you read or hear about incidents of sexual harassment in our country? The number of cases is on the rise, and it is terrifying. In the hopes to combat these occurences, Mashroof Hossain, a Bangladeshi police officer and Abdullah Mohammad Hossain, a martial arts veteran with three decades of experience, together started the project Warrior Women Bangladesh in September 2017.
Local Education and Economic Development Organisation (LEEDO) carries the mission of rescuing children from the streets and placing them in their shelter called Peace Home, or reuniting them with their families. “In the last four years, we have rescued more than 2000 children and settled them both in our shelter and with their parents,” says Forhad Hossain, the founder and executive director of LEEDO. The co-founders of the organisation are Murshida Akter Kanta, Helal Uddin Liton and Mujibur Rahman Masood. LEEDO began their operations in 2000. The Carl and Liz family financed the land where LEEDO’s Peace Home was built in May 2015.
