Naveen Islam Toree

Rupert Grey, a descendant of Charles Grey and best known professionally as a leading libel and copyright lawyer stood against this statement. “If Bangladesh is a basket case,” Grey tells The Daily Star, “then it is so in the best possible way.” For him, the term collapses under the sheer vitality of the country. A single square metre of a Bangladeshi street, he argues, holds more energy than entire neighbourhoods in London. Where life in England often unfolds in rigid routines, Bangladesh thrives in spontaneity—where a hanging lighter at a tea stall can become a moment of shared choreography.

A corner of Alliance Française de Dhaka’s Galerie Zoom has been transformed into a time capsule, where three teenage artists come together to tell a story that feels both tender and universal. “Convergence” is less about spectacle and more about memory — about how friendship forms, stretches across distance, and learns to say goodbye without ever fully letting go.

A group photography exhibition documenting the life, culture and traditions of the Manipuri community in Bangladesh opened at the Bishwo Shahitto Kendro Art Gallery in Banglamotor on December 12.

Necropolitics— a social or political power that determines who gets to live and who does not. Just the thought of this unfair monstrosity makes one shiver, doesn’t it? But it is the way of the world now. To make a bold statement against necropolitics all around the world, The University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) presented “Rupantor: The Resonance Show”, a sustainability-focused fashion and performance project that transformed discarded materials into wearable narratives, with design, movement and social reflection.

Cultural affairs adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki inaugurated the exhibition as chief guest. Renowned artists Professor Dr Abdus Sattar and Professor Mostafizul Haque attended the event as guests of honour, while Mr Sheikh Rezauddin Ahmed, director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, presided over the ceremony.

The auditorium at Goethe-Institut Bangladesh turns into an unconventional stage on November 29 as “AI Mafia Boyfriend”, an experimental performance created by Katerina Don for Sister Library, unfolds before a packed audience. Instead of a conventional play, the production operates as a participatory social experiment examining loneliness, emotional labour, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in intimate life.

Leading the charge was the iconic Miles frontman, Hamin Ahmed, who distilled decades of experience into an unforgettable session for the assembled talent. Organised by Team Alpha, the masterclass was a dynamic blend of deep technical instruction and a rare, intimate look into the maestro's creative process.

On November 27, The Islamic University of Technology Photographic Society (IUTPS) inaugurated “Break The Circle: Season XII” at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy’s Art Gallery 6, unveiling one of its most ambitious international showcases to date. The exhibition features 50 single photographs and seven photo stories selected from 7,832 submissions by judges Syed Latif Hossain, Suborna Morsheada and Sarker Protick.

The exhibition, which runs from November 21 to November 29, invites visitors into the intimate and often unseen beginnings of animated storytelling—before the polish, before the frames move, before the films exist.

In the quiet corners of Alliance Française, a small cluster of canvases invites viewers into a Dhaka that no longer exists — or perhaps one that exists only in memory. In “City of Memories”, Kazi Salahuddin Ahmed turns the familiar chaos of our own Old Dhaka into intimate, abstract landscapes, painted to recall the magic of the city.

His dramas from the 1980s to 2000s — “Ei Shob Din Ratri”, “Aaj Robibar”, “Kothao Keu Nei” — didn’t rely on extravagant plots. Instead, they unfolded inside familiar apartments, verandas, and tea stalls. The humour was effortless, the dialogue ordinary, yet the emotion ran deep. He made us care for people who could easily have been our neighbours.

On Friday, Dhaka witnessed an unforgettable night as Dhaka hosted a border-blurring musical spectacle that fused R&B, hip-hop, and indie energy in front of a roaring crowd hungry for something new. Jalali Set, Hasan Raheem, and Young Stunners lit up the stage, delivering one of the city’s most explosive live performances in recent memory.

Renowned author Rakib Hasan, the mind behind the beloved teen detective series “Tin Goyenda”, passed away yesterday. He was 74.

Today, Bangladesh bid farewell to one of its most beloved storytellers. Rakib Hasan, the mind behind “Tin Goyenda”, passed away — leaving behind an irreplaceable void in the hearts of countless readers who grew up chasing clues, solving mysteries, and dreaming alongside Kishore, Musa, and Robin.

These are the questions that photographer Mostifqur Rahman Johan confronts in his exhibition Living on Death Row, curated by Tanzim Wahab and co-curated by Hadi Uddin. The exhibition, hosted at Drik Gallery, portrays the stories of 12 individuals who spent years in condemned cells before finally being released.

Celebrated Bangladeshi rock band Aurthohin officially announced the release of its much-anticipated album “Phoenixer Diary 2” at a press conference held today at Skyfall Rooftop Restaurant in Mohakhali, Dhaka. The event was organised by Cool Exposure.

In an industry where young actors often stumble under the weight of early fame, Nawba Tahiya Hossain has managed to do something rare—grow naturally into the spotlight. Barely out of her teens, she has already carried dramas that racked up millions of views and made her OTT debut alongside big names. Her story begins at the premises of Bangladesh Shishu Academy, where a little girl once sat with other children on Thursdays, learning how to recite poems and speak with confidence.

Director Anonno Proteek Chowdhury makes a striking debut with “Noya Note” (New Money) — a socially charged drama about dignity and about deception. Writing both the story and screenplay himself, Anonno crafts a narrative that is deeply rooted in Bangladeshi society but broad in its human appeal.

The Bengal Parampara Sangeetalay held its Annual Certificate Award Ceremony on Friday evening (August 29) at its Dhanmondi premises, celebrating the dedication and achievements of its students and teachers in classical music.

Channel i is set to air a nearly three-hour tribute programme titled “Jui Phool: Sabina Yasmin” on September 5th at 2:40 PM, celebrating the 55-year journey of one of Bangladesh’s most iconic voices. The programme takes its name from the singer herself: Sabina means “Jui”.The special feature, which will run for 2 hours and 48 minutes, consists of performances from well known singers and candid reflections of Sabina Yasmin’s life and music.