United News of Bangladesh

The Photoseum Foundation, a government-registered foundation seeking to establish a photography-centred museum in Dhaka, has formally begun its activities with the first meeting of its nine-member Trustee Board on Saturday. Ekushey Padak-winning photographer and writer Nasir Ali Mamun, founder of the foundation, will serve as the president of the Trustee Board. Mamun is widely regarded as a pioneer of portrait photography in Bangladesh. The board comprises Mir Moinul Omar as general secretary and KM Haris Adil as treasurer, while Anisul Hoque, Dr Bimal Guha, Dr Mohammad Abdul Hai Siddiqui, Dr Saymon Zakaria, Dr Kudrat-E-Huda and Fakir Mohammad Abdul Mannan are members. The foundation said its core concept is to establish a photography-centred museum through crowdfunding and called on interested individuals and institutions at home and abroad to extend financial support to the initiative. According to the foundation, Photoseum is envisioned as possibly the first photography-centred museum in South Asia. The museum will be established in Dhaka as a public-interest cultural institution dedicated to preserving and permanently displaying people, time and history through photography. Its planned permanent collection will include selected portraits of prominent personalities from Bangladesh and around the world, along with their handwritten autographs, manuscripts, diaries, letters and other unique personal belongings. The museum will also feature artworks and self-portraits created by notable personalities, as well as previously unpublished audio-visual materials from Mamun’s collection spanning nearly six decades. Rare negatives and gelatin silver prints will also be preserved and displayed through modern curatorial methods, the foundation said. Photoseum considers photographs not merely images but important visual records that can preserve individual lives, the social and political realities of particular periods, historical events and memories of a disappearing world. Preserving such photographs as historical documents for future generations is one of the foundation’s key objectives, it said. The first Trustee Board meeting brought the long-standing initiative under a formal legal and institutional framework, marking a new phase in the establishment of the proposed museum.

The man who was taken from a Dhaka home at dawn on August 30, 1971, is the man whose tune we sing as we walk barefoot every February 21 in the dawn procession. What happened after he was taken has no grave and no record. All that remains are the memories of a few people who came back from the very edge of death. Some of those memories made it onto the stage at Chhayanaut auditorium on Saturday evening. Smriti 71 organized a program on the liberation war of Shaheed Altaf Mahmud, composer of "Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano Ekushey February," and the astonishing survival stories of his comrades. The biggest news of the evening came right at the start. On behalf of Smriti 71, it was announced that a research grant will be offered to recover Altaf Mahmud's lost songs. Making the announcement in his welcome address, Faruk H Khan said: "Altaf Mahmud left behind not one song but many. A large part of them is lost today. Some exist in no recording, some are fading in people's memories. The tune that gave us Ekushey, we will bring back the rest of it." He called on researchers, music lovers and young people to come forward. That dawn In late August 1971, Dhaka's guerrillas had been robbing the Pakistani army of sleep with one strike after another. On August 29, Badi, Rumi, Jewel and Azad were captured. A lead from one of the detainees brought soldiers to Altaf Mahmud's door. At dawn they found a trunk in his home filled with weapons and ammunition. A singer, a composer, a figure everyone knew as an artist, had been quietly keeping the weapons of the liberation war under his own roof. No one saw him again after that day. It is believed that he was killed in the first week of September, after torture at the army camp in Nakhalpara. The others who were arrested are believed to have met the same fate. Those who came back Taking the stage to speak of those days were comrade and painter Abul Barq Alvi, banker Nasser Bakhtiar, and singers Linu Billah and Khanu Billah. One spent his life in banking, others in music. But in 1971 they were all inside a war where being captured usually meant never returning.

Bangladeshi artist Dr Abu Kalam Shamsuddin is set to present his solo exhibition ‘The Song of Agony: Arishadvarga’ at La Galerie of Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) from Friday. The exhibition, opening at 6 pm on Oct 2, draws on the Indian philosophical concept of Arishadvarga, or Shadripu, referring to six inner enemies of human nature: Kama (desire), Krodha (anger), Lobha (greed), Moha (delusion or attachment), Mada (pride) and Matsarya (jealousy). Through a series of paintings, Shamsuddin explores how these impulses influence human behaviour and relationships while affecting the balance between humans and nature. The exhibition also encourages viewers to reflect on their own desires, actions and responsibilities. “I feel that, as an artist, I also have a responsibility towards the environment and the world,” the artist said. Beyond individual introspection, the works address the environmental consequences of unchecked desires and self-centred behaviour, highlighting issues including deforestation, ecological imbalance, wildlife protection and the preservation of natural habitats. Shamsuddin has drawn inspiration from the techniques of Ajanta cave paintings and Thangka art, combining them with contemporary materials and textured surfaces. Sand, mud, zinc oxide and acrylic paint are used to create tactile surfaces and asymmetrical compositions. Earthy browns, muted blues, yellow-greens and shades of gold dominate the palette, while the interplay of colour, texture and form explores consciousness, conflict, transformation and spiritual awakening. Gold, in particular, represents the possibility of inner transformation and greater self-awareness. “The exhibition seeks to reveal the hidden connections between human desires, our behaviour, and the natural world, encouraging us to recognise and reconsider the consequences of our actions,” Shamsuddin said. Open to all, the exhibition will remain open to visitors from Oct 3 to 13, daily from 3 pm to 9 pm at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka, 26 Mirpur Road, Dhanmondi.

Gourd cultivation and handicraft production are thriving in Tangyi Town of Liaocheng City in east China’s Shandong Province, where the traditional industry is supporting rural development. The local government has been promoting the gourd industry as part of its rural revitalization efforts, helping expand cultivation and develop a wider range of gourd-based products. The area under gourd cultivation in Tangyi has now exceeded 10,000 mu, or about 667 hectares. Local artisans have also developed more than 10 categories of gourd-processing crafts, turning the traditional crop into a variety of cultural and creative products. Visitors to the town can see and purchase gourd artworks and other handmade products, while workers continue processing the gourds into decorative and artistic items.

Bangladeshi adventurer Najmun Nahar has been honoured with the “Bangladesh Flag Voyager Gold Medal” in recognition of her global journey carrying Bangladesh’s national flag and her humanitarian initiatives. The award was presented by Multi Talent World at the Bangla Talent Global Summit 2026, held on September 19 at Nya Rågsved Folkets Hus in Stockholm, Sweden. Nahar is the first Bangladeshi and the first woman in the world to travel to 185 countries carrying her national flag. The award recognises Nahar’s extraordinary global journey and her commitment to promoting peace, humanity, environmental protection, women’s empowerment and children’s rights. The citation accompanying the medal highlights her courage, perseverance and patriotism in carrying Bangladesh’s red-and-green flag across continents and cultures. Nahar’s humanitarian initiatives, including her advocacy for peace, environmental responsibility and the rights of disadvantaged and war-affected children, were also recognised. She has received more than 70 national and international awards and honours, including the Peace Torch Bearer Award in the United States. The Gold Medal was presented by Salahuddin Zico, managing director of Multi Talent World, in the presence of Swedish parliamentarians Stefan Nelson and Farzana Khan, academics, media professionals and Bangladeshi community leaders from across Europe. Nahar also served as the keynote speaker at the summit, where she shared experiences from her 26-year global journey, the challenges of travelling with Bangladesh’s national flag, and her message of peace, solidarity and humanity. Her latest honour adds another significant chapter to a remarkable journey defined by one flag, one global expedition and one message for humanity.

Popular singer-songwriter Miftah Zaman returned to the solo stage after nearly two years on Friday with his concert ‘Otopor Odhora’, taking the audience through a three-hour musical journey featuring his popular originals, Bengali classics and songs from dramas. The concert began at 6:30 pm at the National Art Gallery Auditorium of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and continued until around 9:30 pm, with Miftah frequently interacting with the audience, sharing stories behind his songs and inviting fans to join him in familiar numbers. The singer opened the evening with ‘Borsha Raatey’ and went on to perform ‘Tomar Akash Dekhbo Bole’, ‘Tumi Ar Nei Shei Tumi’, ‘Koshtoguloke Shukote De Na’ and ‘Shihoron’. His fan-favourite track ‘Shihoron’ was performed in two versions, including its rock arrangement and a slower rendition with audience participation.

An exhibition bringing together nine Bangladeshi painter-printmakers is currently underway at Bengal Shilpalay in Dhanmondi, exploring the creative dialogue between printmaking and painting across generations. Titled ‘Second Impression’, the exhibition features works by nine Bangladeshi artists: Monirul Islam, Abul Barq Alvi, Shahid Kabir, Rokeya Sultana, Anisuzzaman Anis, Abdullah Al Bashir, Farzana Ahmed Urmi, and the late Mahmudul Haque and Kalidas Karmakar. The exhibition presents works by artists from different generations, ranging from pioneers who emerged in the 1970s to artists who came to prominence in the 2000s. Taking its title from the idea that while a first impression is immediate and instinctive, the exhibition defined by the organisers as a second impression emerges through reflection after an image has settled, revealing details or meanings that may not be apparent at first glance.

The 11th Ayurveda Day was observed at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) in Dhaka on Wednesday under the theme ‘Ayurveda for a Healthier Tomorrow’, bringing together practitioners, academics, students and cultural figures. The programme featured an interactive workshop on Ayurveda and preventive healthcare conducted by Dr Mohammad Mamun Mia, Principal of Nur-Majid Ayurvedic College; Prof Dr Babul Akter of Hamdard University; and Dr Md Jakir Hossain of Nur-Majid Ayurvedic College. High Commissioner of India Dinesh Trivedi highlighted Ayurveda as part of the shared knowledge traditions of India and Bangladesh and underscored the scope for greater cooperation in traditional medicine, research and knowledge exchange. The programme also featured the unveiling of a wool tapestry depicting Lord Ganesha by Bangladeshi artist Shahin Sobhana Surovi. Noted vocalist Ranjan Chandra Sarker presented a classical musical performance, adding a cultural dimension to the programme that brought together themes of health, heritage and culture. Students from leading universities and research institutes working in Ayurveda and traditional medicine participated enthusiastically in the event.

Two concerts featuring Pakistani artists have been postponed at the last minute due to security concerns, with organisers saying they could not obtain the necessary security clearance. One of the organisers of the ‘mAhx Republic’ concert, speaking on condition of anonymity, said all preparations had been completed and advance payments had been made to the artists. “Everything was ready, including the advance payments to the artists. But we have to postpone the concert as we did not receive permission at the last moment. Details will be announced at a press conference on Thursday (Sep 24),” the organiser said. The ‘mAhx Republic’ concert, presented by the REDMI Note 17 Series, was scheduled for Sep 25 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre in Purbachal. The lineup included Pakistani musicians Ali Azmat of Junoon, Jal The Band and Mustafa Zahid featuring Roxen, along with Bangladeshi acts Nagarbaul, Nemesis, Level Five and Shironamhin. The concert was organised as part of activities surrounding the launch of Xiaomi’s REDMI Note 17 series. Meanwhile, Pakistani band Kaavish’s ‘Wave Fest: Enjoy the Full Moon’, organised by PrimeWave Communication, has also been postponed for the same reason, according to the organisers. Kaavish was scheduled to perform in Dhaka on Sep 26 with Bangladeshi bands Shironamhin and Meghdol. The concert had already been postponed once previously over security-related permission issues and was rescheduled after nearly 10 months. Organisers of the two concerts are expected to announce new dates soon. Sources also said three other concerts featuring foreign artists have been postponed, although details of those events were not immediately available.

Kazi Sabyasachi elevated recitation into a modern and aesthetic art form and played a pioneering role in popularising Nazrul's poetry through his voice, speakers said at a seminar organised by Bangla Academy on Wednesday to mark Nazrul Year. The seminar titled ‘Kazi Sabyasachi: The Pioneer of Modern Nazrul Recitation’ was held at the Kobi Shamsur Rahman Seminar Room of Bangla Academy at 4 pm. Bangla Academy Secretary Dr Md Selim Reza delivered the welcome address, while recitation artiste and lawyer Nasim Ahmed presented the keynote paper. Musician and organiser Khilkhil Kazi and recitation researcher and vocal artiste Nimai Mondal took part in the discussion. Bangla Academy Director General Professor Mohammad Azam chaired the programme, moderated by Deputy Director Kazi Rumana Ahmed Soma. Selim Reza said Nazrul's poetry embodies rebellion, equality, humanity, love, secularism and the aspiration for freedom, while its rhythm, sound and word arrangement make it particularly suitable for recitation. Presenting his paper, Nasim Ahmed said Kazi Sabyasachi, despite his relatively short life, elevated recitation and pronunciation into a modern and aesthetic art form. He described Sabyasachi's voice as deep, masculine, resonant and melodious, and said he remains an exemplary figure in modern recitation. "Not only his recitations of Nazrul's poetry, but also his renditions of poems by other poets were undoubtedly unmatched," Nasim said. He also said Sabyasachi took recitation beyond conventional circles and brought it to middle-class homes and ordinary people, helping establish it as a widely accessible art form. Khilkhil Kazi recalled memories of her grandfather Kazi Nazrul Islam and father Kazi Sabyasachi, saying Sabyasachi's popularity demonstrated how deeply a person could connect with people through a love for recitation. She said Sabyasachi had shown that recitation could be pursued as a profession and that he won people's hearts through the art. Bangla Academy Director General Professor Azam said Sabyasachi had internalised Nazrul's poetry from childhood and developed a creative connection between the poet's distinctive style and his own recitation. The speakers said Sabyasachi's work had a lasting influence on recitation of artistes in Bangladesh.