Bengal Gallery in Dhaka is hosting a two-week solo painting exhibition of Monirul Islam, an expatriate painter living in Spain.
A total of 140 works of the artist are on display at the show that will remain open to all from noon to 8:00pm till December 6.
Monirul participated at a number of group exhibitions at home and abroad. He received the Ekushey Padak in 1999. He also received the National Award of Spain for two times in recognition of his painting.
Former Chief Adviser to the caretaker government Justice Habibur Rahman inaugurated the show titled 'Living colours and dancing lines' on November 24.
Eminent artist Professor emeritus Mohammad Kibria and Spanish Ambassador to Bangladesh Arturo Pèrez Martinez also attended the ceremony as special guests.
Praising the works of the artist, Kibria, also a teacher of the artist, said, "From the very beginning, I understood that Monir would bring honour for the country through his work.".
Spanish Ambassador Martinez said that he had known him for years.
Monir also received the National Award of Spain which was given to very few artists, he said.
"Monir is now a Spanish artist for whom we are very proud", said the envoy adding that the Spanish people witnessed Bangladesh and its people through his work. n
400 years of Dhaka celebration begins
People of Dhaka city is set to celebrate the 400 years of Dhaka with the slogan 'Rajdhani Dhakar 400 Basar Purtite, Ahen Moji Furtite'.
"We have outlined a two-day colourful programme to celebrate the 400 years of Dhaka, beginning on November 28," Adviser for Women and Cultural Affairs Rasheda K. Chowdhury said at a discussion meeting at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka on November 24.
Marking the occasion, the government in association with different organisations is also planning to hold a two-year long celebration programme to portray the past and present of Dhaka city.
Steps have also been taken to draw the attention of the tourists as well as the Bangladeshi expatriates to visit Dhaka during the festival time, the organisers said.
Cultural Affairs Secretary Sharful Alam and Bangla Academy Director General Syed Mohammad Shahed, who has been made convener of the celebration programme, also attended at the meeting.
Chief Adviser to the interim government Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed is expected to inaugurate the programme at 4:00pm on November 28 at the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad releasing 400 balloons and pigeons. The grand inauguration ceremony will be followed by a colourful cultural programme.
The inauguration programme features firing of cannon, fireworks and releasing of fanush. Some 53 grand processions with horses and elephants starting from 53 lanes of Dhaka will converge onto the venue of the inaugural programme at South Plaza.
Besides, traditional Kawali, dance, recitation of poetry and colourful performance by different noted organisations will be held.
There will also be a boat race and kite festival on the following day and all the historic establishments including National Museum, Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil, Hosaini Dalan, will be illuminated with colourful bulbs.
Booklets, postcards, stamps and souvenir coins will be released presenting the past glory of this city.
Dhaka City Corporation, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Dhaka University, Asiatic Society, Dhaka Club, Dakabasi and many other bodies will assist in organising the celebration. n
Sufia Kamal remembered
Women rights leaders recalled the contribution of poet Sufia Kamal at a commemorative programme on November 20.
Some 49 organisations under the banner of Samajik Protirodh Committee organised the programme at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka marking the 9th anniversary of death of the poet, who was also revered for her social and cultural conscience and voice against injustice.
The poet had raised her voice against fundamentalism, militancy and communalism as she found those as major obstacles to women's empowerment and development, speakers at the function said.
They also urged the education authorities to include the works of Sufia Kamal and Begum Rokeya in the curriculum of educational institutions to acquaint the new generation with their ideals, writings and commitments to the society and the people.
They also demanded that a city street and a hostel of Dhaka University should be named after Sufia Kamal.
Karmajibi Nari president Shireen Akhtar, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad Secretary Ayesha Khanam and Khushi Kabir of Nijera Kori, among others spoke on the occasion.
The meeting was presided over by Ain O Salish Kendra executive director Sultana Kamal, daughter of the late poet and a former Adviser to the caretaker government. n
Wrishiz honours two personalities
Cultural organisation Wrishiz Shilpigoshthi recently honoured two eminent personalities for contributions to their respective fields.
The awardees were litterateur Hasan Azizul Haque and an Italian, Father Mariano Rigon, who became a Bangladeshi citizen two-week back after living here for 55 years.
Wrishiz honoured them with an Uttario along with Tk seven thousands each, marking the 32nd founding anniversary of the organisation.
Journalist Faiz Ahmed handed over the awards to the recipients as chief guest while Cultural Affairs Secretary Sharful Alam attended the ceremony as a special guest.
Rigon received the award for his contribution to the war of independence and some translations of Bengali works in Italian language while Hasan took the award for literature.
After receiving the award, Rigon who came to Bangladesh in 1953 as a missionary, said, "I am really honoured to receive the award… I'm also proud to get the citizenship of this country just two weeks back after living here for 55 years," he said, adding, "I don't know what can I do for the country but I want to do something for the betterment of the Bangladeshi people."
'I feel embarrassed to receive the award while I don't know what good I have done for the country," said Hasan Azizul Haque, adding that the award would inspire him to do something for people.
Artistes of the organisation also held a cultural function on the occasion. n
New drama serial 'Ronger Duniya' premiered
The premier show of the comedy drama serial 'Ronger Duniya' was held at a function at a city restaurant on the evening of November 23.
Director Hasan Jahangir scripted the 104 episode drama serial while the production house Ekra Sound and Vision produced it.
Shooting of 26 episodes of the serial has already been completed. It will be aired on any channel soon.
ATM Shamsuzzaman, Mamunur Rashid, Dr Enamul Haque, Sujata, Sohel Khan, Hasan Masud, Shahriar Nazim Joy, Babul Ahmed, Litu Anam, Faruk Ahmed, Tazin Ahmed, Homaira Shimu, Shirin Bakul, Pran Roy, Kochi Khondaker, Hasan Jahangir, SM Kamrul Bahar, Rakhi Momtaz, Alvi, Semonti, Arfan, Kazi Alamgir, Binoy Bhadra, Shah Alam Dulal, Zillur Rahman, Hafizur Rahman Suruj, among others, performed in the serial. n
--Shawkat Khan |