Hosted by Joy Shahriar, the event highlighted personal stories and career milestones of Shafin Ahmed and Hasan Abidur Reza Jewel, offering an intimate glimpse into their lives and contributions to Bangladeshi music. The programme concluded with prayers for the eternal peace of their souls.

The Yamaha Flagship Center in Tejgaon came alive with the sound of guitar as the second edition of the “Guitar Master Class” (GMC), powered by WD-40, brought aspiring guitarists face-to-face with one of Bangladesh’s most celebrated musicians—Ershad Zaman. Organised by Team Alpha, the 4-hour session combined practical lessons and candid mentorship, giving young players a rare opportunity to learn directly from their idol and leave with skills, insights, and inspiration.

In “Pendulum”, written by Masum Reza and directed by Nasir Uddin Yousuff, Afzal Hossain will step back onto the stage for the first time in three decades. The play is being co-produced by Dhaka Theatre and Desh Natok, bringing together two of the country’s most respected theatre groups.

Netflix has confirmed an early renewal for its live-action adaptation of “One Piece”, announcing the season three pickup during an annual celebration of Eiichiro Oda’s iconic manga in Tokyo. The news comes months before the premiere of season two, slated for 2026, and much earlier than the season two renewal, which arrived weeks after the show’s 2023 debut.

Vicky Zahed and Afran Nisho have teamed up for some of the most talked-about projects in recent years, including “Punorjonmo”, “Chirokal Aaj”, amongst others.

Netflix has released the official trailer for “The Thursday Murder Club”, Chris Columbus’ film adaptation of Richard Osman’s bestselling novel. The mystery thriller, premiering August 28, brings together an impressive cast led by Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie.

Born on August 10, 1924, in Machimdia, Narail, Sheikh Mohammed Sultan — affectionately known as SM Sultan — abandoned formal schooling early due to financial hardship. Encouraged by local zamindar Dhirendra Nath Roy, he enrolled at the Kolkata Government Art College but left in 1943 before completing his studies.

The Toronto International Film Festival is scheduled to run from September 4 to 14.

On his fifth death anniversary this year, Alif Alauddin has paid a heartfelt tribute by collaborating with several musicians for an unplugged session of his most popular songs, works that continue to influence and inspire others.

The terrace slowly filled with people, with members of different indigenous communities and Bengalis alike. A white wooden shed displayed the main artworks of the exhibition, while the rest of the walls were lined with photographs capturing indigenous life and culture. In front of a hand-painted banner promising a day of art, poetry, music, and discussions, the event “Culture for Identity: From Soil to Soul” began.

The English-language Bangladeshi feature film “Dot” has received clearance from the Film Censor Board, paving the way for its release. Producer Barua Manojit Dhiman confirmed the news, adding that the official release date will be announced soon. The film is directed by Barua Sunanda Kakon.

Ed Sheeran has reunited with Rupert Grint for his latest music video “A Little More”, marking their first collaboration in 14 years since the hit “Lego House”.

Suchona Shely has secured second place at the Rukh Sanat World Traditional Culture and Music Festival, held in Kyrgyzstan. The competition featured 82 artistes and bands from 14 countries, including Bangladesh.

A drama and cultural show organised by Oboyab Cultural Centre was held at the district Shilpakala Academy on Friday (August 8), marking the anniversary of the historic July Mass Uprising.

He began his journey with Goutam Koiri’s “Antonagar” (2023) and quickly gained recognition through standout performances in Mostofa Sarwar Farooki’s “840” (2024), Vicky Zahed’s “Tithidor” (2024), and Ashfaque Nipun’s “Jimmi” (2025)—projects that significantly boosted his career. In conversation with The Daily Star, the actor reflected on his recent work and shared insights into his creative process.

TIFF 2025, set to run from September 4 to 14 in Toronto, will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year and is expected to draw the world's top filmmakers, industry executives, and press, making it an exceptional opportunity for the “Ali” team to share their work with an international audience.

The return of the iconic daily soap “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi” has proven to be a television phenomenon, clocking an impressive 1.659 billion watch minutes across TV and streaming platforms in its launch week, Star Plus announced yesterday.

The folk music reality show “Magic Bauliana” returns for its fifth season on Maasranga Television, celebrating Baul and other traditional genres for audiences in Bangladesh and beyond.

Described as “Heat” meets “Hell or High Water” with the soul of a Bruce Springsteen ballad, the story follows Chalamet as a former MotoGP racer whose career was cut short by a devastating crash. Now running a small garage while caring for his drug-addicted father, his life takes a sharp turn when his father dies.

Bishwajit, who has spent most of the past two years in Canada at his son’s side, recently composed and arranged “Kande Re Bhai Kande”, the latest release from singer Kishor Das. Written by lyricist Liton Adhikari Rintu, the track carries Bishwajit’s unmistakable melodic touch.