MAILBOX

"Not Forgotten"
The story titled "Not Forgotten" published on June 26, 2015 about Kalpana Chakma abduction case was really well investigated. The proverb, "Procrastination is the thief of time" is very much applicable to our judiciary. Nineteen years have passed but there is no progress in the Kalpana abduction case.  It is so unfortunate that the perpetrators have been taking the benefit of legal loopholes by abusing their power. On the other hand, poor members of Kalpana's family have been witnessing one of the worst examples of judicial procrastination. I wonder if I shall be able to see the verdict in my lifetime. However, I would like to thank artist Shahidul Alam for his remarkable initiative of raising the appeal for justice once again.
Md Israfil Hossen
Bijoy Ekattor Hall, University of Dhaka

"Art that Speaks to the Times"
I am writing in reference to the article "Art that Speaks to the Times" on Venice Biennale which was published on June 26, 2015 in the Star Weekend. 
In the article, the writer mentioned that "Bangladesh took part in the previous two editions of the Venice Biennale with very different results. This year therefore, Bangladesh doesn't have a presence in the greatest of the art world's many events." The fact is, though Bangladesh had its own pavilion in Venice in 2011 and 2013; this year not only does Bangladesh have a strong presence in the biennale, but also it is a stepping stone for the Bangladeshi art scene as for the first time a Bangladeshi artist (Naeem Mohaiemen) was included in the main exhibition of Venice Biennale, curated by Okwui Enwezor titled "All the World's Futures". Naeem's work is being exhibited in Giardini and is one of the first works on display, as one enters the exhibition. Apart from Bangladeshi artists' participation in the main exhibition; the main exhibition of this year's Venice Biennale was also sponsored by the "Samdani Art Foundation", along with other organisations from all around the world. This is the first time a Bangladeshi art foundation has supported a main exhibition.
In this year's Venice Biennale, besides the main exhibition and national pavilion there are over 150 exhibitions taking place and one of the exhibitions was "Frontier Reimagined." It should also be noted that even in that exhibition, there were two works by Bangladeshi contemporary artist-Tayeba Begum Lipi, but unfortunately in the aforementioned article there was no mention about the Bangladeshi artist, portraying a wrong picture about our country's strength in the global art scene. 
Nadia Samdani
President, Samdani Art Foundation, Dhaka