In the heart of London’s East End, the Spitalfields Studios Gallery recently unveiled "Echoes of Existence", a solo exhibition by the Bangladeshi artist Ruhul Amin Tarek— representing a thoughtful, spiritually charged journey through form, time, memory, and landscape. With 64 diverse works ranging from woodcuts to drypoints, acrylics to pencil sketches, Tarek invites the viewer into a contemplative realm where art becomes a mirror for inner life, the human condition, and nature’s silent testimony.
After a hectic day at work, I found myself rushing to Gallery Chitrak last Sunday evening to indulge in “Nandonpot”, a group art exhibition inaugurated on the day of the summer solstice (June 21). I could hardly control my excitement before entering the gallery, and like most of the time, I was not disappointed. “Nandonpot” is a visual group art exhibition displaying artworks by artists from various generations. Notably, Eminent artist Professor Hamiduzzaman Khan, art critic Moinuddin Khaled, and Country Chief Risk Officer Mohammad Enamul Haque of Standard Chartered Bank, attended the opening ceremony as guests.
The Bangladeshi photographer, educator, and journalist breathed his last on Friday, June 20, at approximately 9:30pm, while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Dhaka. He was 68. The pioneer in Bangladeshi photography had been battling various health complications for an extended period, a battle he fought with characteristic resilience until the end.
At the heart of the play is the tragic trial of the Greek philosopher Socrates, whose unwavering pursuit of truth and reason led to a death sentence handed down by 501 jurors in ancient Athens. Accused of corrupting the youth and rejecting the state-sanctioned gods, Socrates could have chosen exile or even escaped. But instead, he accepted his fate and drank hemlock with stoic resolve, a moment immortalised in both philosophy and theatre.
A total of 120 writers, artists, performers, filmmakers, academics, and cultural activists from across the country have jointly condemned the reported decision to remove the mural titled “Anjali Laho Mor” from the campus of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University in Trishal, Mymensingh.
Written and directed by Shakil Ahmed Sonet, the play draws from the spirit of monsoon revolutions and presents what the director describes as “a chronicle of our times”—a poetic yet brutal narrative set against the backdrop of gunshots, grief, and fragmented dreams.
The Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) has kicked off a vibrant new art initiative titled “Bhashajog: Celebrating Expression through Language in Printmaking”, spotlighting the country’s rich linguistic and cultural diversity. The weeklong workshop began on June 13 at the National Art Gallery Plaza in Shegun Bagicha, Dhaka, and will run through June 21, offering four daily sessions to a total of 80 registered participants each day.
Emon, an actor and advisor from Prachyanat, was the only participant from Asia and played a dual role as both actor and country representative. While two other Bangladeshi artists—actor Nahida Ankhi and choreographer Diana Merlin—were initially selected, both were unable to join due to visa issues.
“O Death O Dance”, a solo visual art exhibition displaying artist Mobassir Alam Mazumder's compositions, is as mystical and beautiful as its name. During its inauguration on May 6 at the Bishwo Shahitto Kendro Art Gallery, veteran painter and Professor Emeritus Rafiqun Nabi graced the event as the chief guest. Artist and writer Professor Abul Mansur and art critic Syed Azizul Haque also attended the ceremony as speakers. Following the affectionate speeches from the guests, Prof Nabi declared the exhibition to be open for visitors.
The day opened with a seminar titled “Comprehensive Sound Analysis: Music and Consciousness”, where Assistant Professor Dr Ali F M Rezowan presented the keynote speech. Department Head Dr Jhumur Ahmed chaired the session, with Assistant Professor Md Mahmudul Hasan serving as moderator.
Curated by Mikhail Idris, the exhibition features more than a hundred artworks by 73 artists from across Bangladesh. The works, inspired by the life, philosophy, and spiritual legacy of Gautama Buddha, explore Buddhist ideals through the lens of Oriental art traditions, merging traditional techniques with contemporary expressions.
Swapnadal’s “Helen Keller” goes deeper than the familiar narrative of perseverance. It reveals the fascinating, often overlooked connection between Helen Keller and Rabindranath Tagore — exploring how the poet-philosopher’s ideas of human dignity, empathy, and universalism profoundly impacted Keller’s worldview. In doing so, the play not only celebrates Keller’s extraordinary triumphs but also spotlights the subtle ways Eastern thought influenced Western history.
As part of the festivities, the Syed Badruddin Hossain Memorial Honor will be awarded posthumously to Dr Afsar Ahmad, the late chairman of the Department of Drama and Dramatics at Jahangirnagar University, and to Mohammad Saiful Islam, an esteemed stage and lighting designer.
For Nazrul Award 2023, the honours go to: Professor Irshad Ahmed Shaheen, a distinguished researcher at the University of South Asia, recognised for his outstanding contribution to Nazrul scholarship. Alongside his academic work in English language and literature, Shaheen has spent decades deepening the understanding of Nazrul’s legacy.
The story begins on October 14, 1954, when Jibanananda Das was gravely injured in a tram accident in Kolkata. The play then journeys through the final nine days of his life, as he lay in Sambhunath Pandit Hospital, facing his dreams, visions, philosophies, and realities from the edge of life. He passed away on October 22, 1954, leaving behind a world he so intimately captured in his poetry.
The exhibition “Ikrimikri: A World of Picture Books” opened on May 2 at La Galerie of Alliance Française de Dhaka, inviting visitors into a whimsical realm where children’s book illustrations come to life. Organised by the children’s publishing collective “Ikrimikri”, the show runs until May 7 and celebrates the power of visual storytelling rooted in Bangladeshi culture.
Kumkum Rani has devoted considerable time and effort to mastering these forms. She has a collection of nearly 700 Radharaman Dhamaail songs. Many folk artistes come to her to learn from her vast repertoire.
This year’s May Day discussion will feature playwright and professor Ratan Siddiqui as the keynote speaker, alongside Harun Rashid, chief editor of Aranyak Natyadal. Staying true to tradition, Aranyak will also release the latest issue of their annual publication, “May Day’s Paper.”
