Syeda Asma Akber is a self-taught painter, but this description hardly does justice to her creative talents. Her connection to art seems to have been established in her early years. As a painter, she explores non-figurative, mostly non-objective, and naturist themes. Asma’s work is deeply rooted in physiological experiments, incorporating elements of illusion and emotion. 

Dr Azharul Islam Sheikh Chanchal, a Professor of the Department of Ceramics of the Faculty of Fine Art (FFA), University of Dhaka (DU), is showcasing an array of artworks in his third solo show titled “Mrittikanjali” at Zainul Gallery 1. Professor Emeritus Rafiqun Nabi along with renowned artists -- Mohammad Eunus, also the Chairman of Art Bangla Foundation, and Professor Nisar Hossain, also the dean of FFA, DU, -- graced the inaugural ceremony as distinguished guests on February 19. Prominent art critic and teacher Moinuddin Khaled has curated the exhibition.

An architectural exhibition titled "Learning from Puran Dhaka: Exploring the Future of Living Heritage" is currently underway at La Galerie of Alliance Française de Dhaka. Organised by a collaborative effort of architecture students from various prestigious universities and supported by distinguished dignitaries, the exhibition aims to shed light on the rich cultural heritage of Puran Dhaka and its significance in shaping the future urban landscape.

The book, exploring the obscured corners of the singer’s life before his rise to fame, has been unveiled at a programme held at the Bishwa Sahitya Kendra Auditorium in the capital on Monday evening.

In a ceremony held on February 14 at Bengal Shilpalay, Head of Office and Unesco Representative to Bangladesh Dr Susan Vize, President Chandra Shekhar Shaha of the National Crafts Council of Bangladesh, and Shamsuddoha of Dohatech, gave away the certificates for the 'WCC APR Craft Master Award 2023’ and the ‘Luna Shamsuddoha Award’. The international recognition is an honour for Bangladesh.

Shilpangan, a contemporary art gallery in the capital held the opening ceremony of “Kauthopokauthon”, the fourth solo exhibition by artist Samar Majumder on February 16. The event was inaugurated by the writer, researcher, and trustee of the Liberation Museum, Mofidul Hoque. Writer and art critic, Prof Moinuddin Khaled attended the event as the special guest. Following the cordial speeches regarding the artist, the exhibition was initiated.

The opening ceremony of the art exhibition “Death Sentence” took place yesterday (February 15) at the Bengal Shilpalay. Curated by Jewel A Rob, under the Bengal Foundation’s Subir Choudhury Curatorial Practice Grant, works by five artists namely Anisuzzaman Sohel, Emran Sohel, Promotesh Das Pulak, Najmun Nahar Keya, and Shimul Datta, are currently being featured in the show.

The government announced the recipients of Ekushey Padak 2024 upon 21 distinguished citizens of the country in recognition of their momentous contributions in various fields of the nation. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs revealed the names of the honourees of this year.

Humayun Faridee, hailed as one of Bangladesh's cinematic legends, departed prematurely at the age of 60, leaving behind an everlasting legacy on the stages of theatre, the screens of television, and the reels of film.

A nine-member jury board comprising eminent theatre personalities such as Shafi Ahmed, Kamaluddin Kabir, Haroon Ar Rashid Khan, Debaprosad Debnath, Hridi Huq, Fahmida Haq Koli, Sadhana Ahmed, Kha Ma Harun, and Nazrul Kabir were tasked to watch and evaluate 33 plays staged in 2023 for the award.

Today’s late afternoon saw the inauguration of artist Sreebash Basak's first solo art exhibition, featuring his collection of paintings entitled "Chitopotro" at Safiuddin Shilpalay in the capital’s Dhanmondi area.

In a joint statement, 18 renowned cultural and theatrical personalities, including celebrated actor, elocutionist, and cultural figure Syed Hasan Imam, thespian Ramendu Majumdar, Ferdousi Mazumder, Mamunur Rashid, and theatre personality Nasiruddin Yousuff, have voiced their outrage and firm stance against the incident at JU.

Anisul Hoque, a beloved contemporary literary figure, has gained acclaim for his contributions to poetry, short stories, novels, satire, and various literary genres. Recognised with the prestigious Bangla Academy Award and numerous other accolades, his work, particularly the book "Ma", has achieved unprecedented print numbers in the country.

Notably, Natyacharya Bulbul Chowdhury (January 1, 1919 - May 17, 1954) is considered the pioneer of modern dance in Bangladesh. He earned distinction as the first Muslim dancer of the British-era Indian subcontinent, and by the age of 30, he was honoured as the National Dancer of Pakistan.

Announcing the official prize-giving ceremony of “Ishrat Nishat Natya Puraskar 2023” on February 9, the committee’s executive committee chairman, Nasir Uddin Yousuff, along with chief coordinator Selina Shelley, declared the names of the nominated theatre personalities in categories of best in production, director, playwright, male actor, female actor, best light designer, set designer and music designer and costume designer.

“Dhaka Makers”, an independent arts and crafts festival, is a vibrant platform for local artistes to showcase their creativity and connect with like-minded individuals. During my recent visit to the second edition of the event, I was impressed by the diverse range of stalls that highlighted a variety of Bangladeshi artworks.

In the exhibition, the development and changes in the shape of the dolls are represented according to the important time periods of Japan. This can be seen through the shape of the dolls, from the traditional to the collector figure. Not only that, this exhibition also displays “Ningyo” forms and styles with characteristics from each region in Japan.

The Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation (BGTF) has arranged the National Street Theatre Festival under the theme “Yardstick of Politics, Art, Literature, and Culture”. For 34 years, the BGTF has been hosting this festival in honour of the language martyrs at the Central Shaheed Minar premises. This year, the festival will take place across 21 zones in eight divisions, including the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka.

The "Voices of Resistance 2024" exhibition, currently taking place at The KL City Art Gallery and featuring the active participation of talented Bangladeshi artists, offers a distinctive fusion of creativity that goes beyond geographical boundaries. This artistic endeavour, organised by the Birlikte Sanat Society in collaboration with the Turkish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and Yunus Emre Institute (YEE), not only celebrates Turkish artistry but also serves as a platform for solidarity with Gaza.

The second edition of Dhaka Makers, an independent arts and crafts festival that kicked off on February 1, 2024, at the Aloki Convention Center. Established as a vibrant platform for local, contemporary artists, the festival aims to showcase their work and foster connections within the creative community.