A pink poster had been circulating my social media newsfeed, and it turned out to be an art exhibition, so I decided to pay a visit. On the first afternoon of August, Safiuddin Shilpalay hence inaugurated the first solo exhibition, “Abanto”, by Mayesha Islam Abanti. She is a distinguished young lady who is currently enrolled at the University of Birmingham, UK.
The rally will begin at 3pm from the Shilpakala Academy and parade through Moghbazar, Hatirjheel, and Madhubagh, before looping back to its starting point. Each rickshaw will be colourfully decked with custom T-shirts, caps, flag bands, placards, and original graffiti art—transforming the streets of Dhaka into a moving exhibition of protest and pride.
"Bidrupe Bidroho", the six-day exhibition currently underway at La Gallerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka, revives the spirit of resistance. Organised by Earki, the exhibition has been organised to mark the first anniversary of the July 2024 uprising, the 36-day-long people’s movement that culminated in the overthrow of the Awami League regime.
The “July Reawakening Theatre Festival” is currently underway at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, featuring 11 new productions by 11 theatre troupes. Organised to reflect on the spirit of the July movement, the festival opened on July 31 at the National Theatre Hall and will continue till August 8.
From stage to street, artistes and activists led a cultural revolt against brutality and censorship
Spardha’s acclaimed productions "Bismaykar Sabkichu" and "Tobu-o Jege Uthi"—the latter directed by Mohsina Akter—will return to the stage for one and three performances, respectively. This phase also includes four additional workshops and a public panel.
A rare Salvador Dali painting discovered during a routine house clearance in Cambridge is set to go under the hammer in October, with an estimated value of up to £30,000 ($40042.35) — despite being bought for just £150 ($200.29).
Recently, social media was flooded with her success story, as her work was selected as one of the top entries from over 7,000 submissions for London’s prestigious Drawing of the Year Awards. Her illustration was also featured in the Drawing of the Year 2025 book, earning her international recognition.
The opening ceremony of the art exhibition “Death Sentence” took place yesterday (February 15) at the Bengal Shilpalay. Curated by Jewel A Rob, under the Bengal Foundation’s Subir Choudhury Curatorial Practice Grant, works by five artists namely Anisuzzaman Sohel, Emran Sohel, Promotesh Das Pulak, Najmun Nahar Keya, and Shimul Datta, are currently being featured in the show.
The government announced the recipients of Ekushey Padak 2024 upon 21 distinguished citizens of the country in recognition of their momentous contributions in various fields of the nation. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs revealed the names of the honourees of this year.
Humayun Faridee, hailed as one of Bangladesh's cinematic legends, departed prematurely at the age of 60, leaving behind an everlasting legacy on the stages of theatre, the screens of television, and the reels of film.
A nine-member jury board comprising eminent theatre personalities such as Shafi Ahmed, Kamaluddin Kabir, Haroon Ar Rashid Khan, Debaprosad Debnath, Hridi Huq, Fahmida Haq Koli, Sadhana Ahmed, Kha Ma Harun, and Nazrul Kabir were tasked to watch and evaluate 33 plays staged in 2023 for the award.
Today’s late afternoon saw the inauguration of artist Sreebash Basak's first solo art exhibition, featuring his collection of paintings entitled "Chitopotro" at Safiuddin Shilpalay in the capital’s Dhanmondi area.
In a joint statement, 18 renowned cultural and theatrical personalities, including celebrated actor, elocutionist, and cultural figure Syed Hasan Imam, thespian Ramendu Majumdar, Ferdousi Mazumder, Mamunur Rashid, and theatre personality Nasiruddin Yousuff, have voiced their outrage and firm stance against the incident at JU.
Anisul Hoque, a beloved contemporary literary figure, has gained acclaim for his contributions to poetry, short stories, novels, satire, and various literary genres. Recognised with the prestigious Bangla Academy Award and numerous other accolades, his work, particularly the book "Ma", has achieved unprecedented print numbers in the country.
Notably, Natyacharya Bulbul Chowdhury (January 1, 1919 - May 17, 1954) is considered the pioneer of modern dance in Bangladesh. He earned distinction as the first Muslim dancer of the British-era Indian subcontinent, and by the age of 30, he was honoured as the National Dancer of Pakistan.
Announcing the official prize-giving ceremony of “Ishrat Nishat Natya Puraskar 2023” on February 9, the committee’s executive committee chairman, Nasir Uddin Yousuff, along with chief coordinator Selina Shelley, declared the names of the nominated theatre personalities in categories of best in production, director, playwright, male actor, female actor, best light designer, set designer and music designer and costume designer.
“Dhaka Makers”, an independent arts and crafts festival, is a vibrant platform for local artistes to showcase their creativity and connect with like-minded individuals. During my recent visit to the second edition of the event, I was impressed by the diverse range of stalls that highlighted a variety of Bangladeshi artworks.
