AK Ratul, vocalist of the popular Bangladeshi rock band Owned, passed away yesterday at the age of 34, after suffering a cardiac arrest at the gym around 3:30pm.

The last week of July brought an artistic distraction in the wake of a national tragedy. Seeking a brief moment of emotional respite, I visited Safiuddin Shilpalay on July 26, 2025, as it inaugurated “Carving the Self: Id | Ego | Superego”—the first solo art exhibition of emerging artist Abu Al Naeem. The ceremony was attended by noted professors from the Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka, including Prof Syed Abul Barq Alvi, Prof Dr Azharul Islam Sheikh, Prof Anisuzzaman Anis, and Associate Prof Md Nazir Hossain Khan. Artist and founder of Safiuddin Shilpalay, Ahmed Nazir, was also present.

BTS’ first live album, “Permission to Dance on Stage — Live”, has entered the Billboard 200 at No 10, as per the latest chart preview released Sunday (July 27) in the US.

Ratul, alongside Owned, carved a blazing path in Bangladesh's underground music industry, leaning heavily towards nu-metal and grunge-inspired music

Bollywood icon Deepika Padukone has earned a spot on The Shift’s esteemed roster titled “90+ Women Shaping Culture”, which celebrates influential women from around the world.

Raihan Rafi’s “Taandob” broke major records upon its theatrical release during Eid-ul-Azha. The star-studded film, featuring Shakib Khan, Jaya Ahsan, Sabila Nur, and Afzal Hossain, was widely loved by audiences.

Fans of the cult superhero satire “The Boys” were treated to a surprise sneak peek of its highly anticipated fifth and final season during a panel at San Diego Comic-Con. The exclusive teaser trailer was unveiled at Ballroom 20, leaving attendees buzzing with excitement.

Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has said that efforts are underway to widely disseminate the tragic and powerful story of the July 2024 mass uprising to the public through collective and narrative-driven projects.

“Bend It Like Beckham”, made on a modest £3.5 million budget, became an unexpected box office sensation, grossing nearly £60 million worldwide. The film follows a British-Indian teenager who defies family expectations to pursue her love of football.

Set in a society marked by consumerism and apathy, the play follows Shubhonkar—a seemingly ordinary man—who becomes entangled in the turbulence of social upheaval. While others burn for the cause, Shubhonkar simply wants to hold hands, to connect, to not be forgotten. Yet, the system swallows him whole.

Television shooting activities are set to resume in Uttara’s Sector 4 after a breakthrough was reached between local authorities and industry professionals. 

Scroll through any beauty retailer or Instagram ad today, and chances are you will stumble across a celebrity-owned brand. From skincare and makeup to fragrance, supplements, and now even homeware and tea, the list keeps growing. Over the past few years, it feels like nearly every actor, singer, or influencer with a solid fan base has released a product line inspired by their personal journey.

Actors Mosharraf Karim, Shamim Zaman, and A K M Hasan– who first formed a bond in the early 1990s; are set to share the screen once again.

Legendary Bangladeshi rock band Warfaze is set to embark on a two-month Canada tour this September and October, marking four decades of their musical journey.

BTS member Jungkook continues to cement his legacy in global music history. The 27-year-old K-pop sensation has officially become the first Asian solo artiste to surpass 100 million streams on every original solo track released under his Spotify profile, according to the World Music Awards on July 21.

Lalon honoured the body and recognised its significance in shaping our worldview.

Following the screening of “Jibon Theke Neya”, another iconic Bangladeshi film, “Surja Dighal Bari”, is set to be showcased in Australia. The film, which centres on the resilience of a woman named Joygun amid life’s struggles, will be screened on August 3 at a special venue called Zamindar Bari.

American heavy metal band Slipknot are marking the 25th anniversary of their landmark debut album with a special reissue of Slipknot (1999), featuring more than 40 previously unreleased tracks. As reported by Billboard, the deluxe edition will be released on September 5 under Roadrunner Records.

Additionally, the new season of Duronto TV will also feature shows such as “Rong Beronger Golpo”, “Duronto Shastho Duronto Mon”, “The Smurfs”, “Sweet Little Monsters”, “Sisimpur”, “The Art Room”, “Mia and Me”, and more.

Jennifer Lopez celebrated turning 56 in true J Lo style — by gifting fans a bold new anthem. The global pop icon marked her birthday on Thursday with the release of her first solo track of the year, aptly titled “Birthday”.