Art and Culture
'July Mass Uprising' Book Fair attracts no buyers on Monday
No buyers or readers were seen on the fifth day of the 'July Mass Uprising' Book Fair and book sales were also at zero.
Book launch of Kachamithe Pholer Chhora
The launch and publication celebration of the children’s rhyme book Kachamithe Pholer Chhora (Rhymes of Tangy-Sweet Fruits) by children's author Amit Kumar Kundu was held in Dhaka.
Ahmed Sofa unmasked the intellectuals
“The Bengali Muslim society fears independent thought the most”—this comment was made by writer Ahmed Sofa. He made the remark in his essay “Bangali Musalmaner Mon” (The Mind of the Bengali Muslim). Explaining the context of the essay, his disciple, writer and professor Salimullah Khan, said, “The Bengali Muslim is not actually an ethnic group. It is the name of a particular class, who are Muslims and speak Bangla, and who suffer from an inferiority complex because of it. A specific section of the exploited class among Bengali and Muslim people, who have not overcome this inferiority complex, they are the Bengali Muslims. Even though times have changed, the crisis of this inferiority complex has not been resolved. This is why the poor state of the Bangla language at all levels still persists.”
“Gift every minute to this world, with something great”
The moment the name Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed is uttered, the image of a teacher, poet, fiction writer, organiser, environmental activist, and television personality floats before us. Many of his speeches have gone viral on social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube—speeches that are extraordinarily educational and profoundly insightful. He speaks about every branch of knowledge—science, literature, culture, poetry, teaching, politics, economics, and organisation—with such enchantment that the listener cannot help but be mesmerised. When he speaks, everyone listens in awe. As if he speaks, and the rest simply listen. His words are full of reflection and analysis; he captivates us in an astonishingly magical language.
Charyapada Revival Festival kicks off
To celebrate a decade of reviving Charyapada songs, Bhavanagar Foundation is hosting a three-day "Charyapada Revival Festival 2025" from July 9 to 11 at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy’s seminar hall and studio theater. This marks the festival’s second edition, featuring devotees, researchers, and musicians from Bangladesh and abroad.
Visiting the playground of natural beauty, Darjeeling
Darjeeling is known as the ‘Queen of the Hills’. Last year I went to Darjeeling with my family. First, we travelled from Dhaka to Kolkata. After reaching there, we arrived at Howrah Railway Station very early in the morning and took the train named Vande Bharat to Jalpaiguri. It is known as the fastest train in West Bengal. Our train started its journey at 6:30am. There was a lunch and breakfast package on the train. They served breakfast at 7am. The breakfast menu included bread, butter, vegetables, eggs, tea, and juice. During the train journey, we enjoyed the surrounding natural scenery.
Sur Sudha Sangeetyan's annual cultural festival held
Sur Sudha Sangeetyan's annual cultural festival has been held at the Ramesh Chandra Dutta Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on Friday (July 4).
The Dhamrai Rathajatra and the nature of Asharh
Asharh means kadam flowers, Asharh means rain, and the festival of Rathajatra. In Bangladesh, it is a beautiful fusion of nature and culture. On the morning of the 13th of Asharh, a brief shower occurred. Ignoring the drizzle, I set off from Dhanmondi to Dhamrai. The sky remained cloudy. Since childhood, I have heard that it always rains on the day of the Rathajatra, meaning chariot pulling, with every pull of the chariot's rope. In different places, the rope is pulled at different times. Does that mean it rains locally at those places? Perhaps not. But such is the nature of Asharh rain—it doesn't last continuously for long. It comes and goes.
The Shroud
On days when it was impossible for Shaziya to wake up in time for the dawn namaz, she would blame it on her high blood pressure, and had a habit of saying she had no peace because of those damn tablets.
‘Taandob’ Piracy: Loss for film industry people, responsibility also theirs
This Eid, superstar Shakib Khan’s film Taandob hit the theaters. Directed by Raihan Rafi, the movie boasts a stellar cast and was off to a roaring start at the box office. However, just two weeks after its release, a pirated copy of the film began circulating online, dealing a severe blow to its commercial success. In an op-ed, filmmaker Dipankar Dipon —an expert in post-production and a university lecturer on the subject—analyzes the piracy crisis surrounding Taandob. He explores why this case stands out, who bears responsibility, and how Bangladesh’s film industry can combat piracy to protect its future.