Cultural affairs adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has said this year’s Anondo Shobhajatra was not politically motivated.
Farooki declared that this year’s New Year celebrations would bring together not just Bengali citizens, but also 27 ethnic communities from across the country. “Diversity is our most powerful and beautiful asset,” he said.
Renowned filmmaker and cultural affairs adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has dismissed concerns that Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy is running without leadership following the recent resignation of its Director General, Syed Jamil Ahmed.
As the ongoing allegations, contentions and discussions were addressed by the Cultural Advisor Mostafa Sarwar Farooki through his Facebook posts and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs through a press note, Syed Jamil Ahmed clears his stance once again in an interview.
Popular music composer Prince Mahmud has opened up about the issue. On Monday, March 3, Prince Mahmud wrote on Facebook, “Mostofa Sarwar Farooki is fine as an adviser. At least he is not being childish. He is sensitive and knows what to say and do in different situations. The situation demands someone like him.”
Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has questioned some of the issues raised by Syed Jamil Ahmed in his statement while handing his resignation as the director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy at a public event.
Quick probe finds rift between theatre artistes
Among the recipients are late novelist Shahidul Zahir (Md Shahidul Haque) and poet Helal Hafeez, who will be honoured posthumously for their contributions to Language and Literature. Renowned photographer and founder of Drik Gallery and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, Shahidul Alam, will receive the award for his work in Culture and Education. Filmmaker Azizur Rahman, famed for his work on “Chhutir Ghonta”, will be conferred the award posthumously for his contributions to Arts (Cinema), while Ustad Nirad Baran Barua and Ferdous Ara will be honored for Music. Nasir Ali Mamun will be recognized for Arts (Photography), and Rokeya Sultana will receive the award for Arts (Fine Arts).
Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, adviser to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, has called for merging the culture and tourism ministries to ensure better coordination.
This year, an estimated 50 Bangladeshi films have been released. Among these, only a handful have achieved commercial success. Then again, despite not performing well at the box office, other cinematic aspects like actors, actresses, and film songs have managed to remain at the centre of discussions throughout the year.
Breaking the usual rule of up to two films being released on the same day, three highly anticipated Bangladeshi films are set to hit cinemas this Friday. While typically, only two films can be released on non-festival days, the industry is making an exception. This week, audiences can look forward to Mostofa Sarwar Farooki’s political satire “840: The Great Bangla Democracy Pvt. Ltd”, Belal Sani’s sci-fi horror “Danger Zone,” and Shabnam Parvin’s comedy “Hurmoti”.
Almost 16 years ago, director Mostofa Sarwar Farooki sparked a storm of discussions with his satirical series 420, which highlighted contemporary social and political issues in Bangladesh. Now, he is back with its double-up.
Opening with a biting question—“When a man wins an election with 103% of the vote, what does he ask for next?”—the 3-minute trailer sets the stage for a sharp critique of political corruption. Nasir Uddin Khan, in the lead role, plays a flawed, power-hungry politician who will go to any lengths to secure public support and win a mayoral election.
Mostofa Sarwar Farooki is set to revive his popular 2007 political satire “420,” with a new series, titled “840,” doubling down on the ‘absurdities’ of Bangladeshi politics.
The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has announced seven priority programmes, including a nationwide talent hunt and a youth festival, to reignite the cultural landscape of Bangladesh.
Since taking the oath as the cultural adviser for the interim government, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has faced significant backlash on social media. However, on the third day of his tenure, he delivered some positive news regarding two major ongoing issues in the cultural arena that had been widely discussed across the nation.
Farooki has been facing social media backlash since taking his oath as an adviser to the interim government. Many have labelled him as a collaborator of the previous regime. On his first day in office, he was confronted with these allegations, and rather than avoid them, he addressed them head-on.
Farooki, a renowned filmmaker, acknowledged the longstanding neglect of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. "Let’s not hide the fact—everyone knows the Ministry of Cultural Affairs has long been neglected. The budget for this sector is always limited. But my advantage is that I have an incredible team. Mohammad Azam is at the Bangla Academy, and he’s a brand! I have been following his work for a long time.”
Farooki, renowned for his critically acclaimed films and television dramas, has been entrusted with overseeing the Cultural Affairs Ministry.
