Photography of passion and profession.

Seedra Kalim and Mahmuda Binta Imam, Ulab.

Sony Alpha took the initiative to make people more aware about the quality that Sony serves through a photo exhibition in Dhaka.

Performing rituals. Photo credit: Shafquat Rahman.

"Abir Abdullah, Ata Adnan and Sauda Faisal are the three Sony Ambassadors who first took the step to launch a photo exhibition," Imtiaz Kabir said, a photographer and the personal assistant of Abir Abdullah.

"Thanks to Sony ambassadors for such a dazzling photo exhibition," Prodip said, a young boy who visited the exhibition.

Photo Exhibition by Sony Alpha continues from 25th to 29th December in the Drik Gallery.  They have chosen Drik gallery as a best place to exhibit their unique photographs that will give people the assurance of the picture quality.

"The more the people will know the more our company will be benefited," Kabir said.

People know about the sound quality of Sony but it was very important to let people know about the picture quality too. 

"Drik is only the first step; all the three of them will arrange such exhibitions in many other districts to increase the awareness of people," Kabir added.

Various people shared their opinions about the unique picture quality who visited the exhibition.

"Great exhibition by the photographers. Old Dhaka presentation is awesome. Thanks Sony Rangs to organize this type of Exhibition. Young people will be encouraged through this kind of Exhibition," Emu said, a visitor at Drik.

"Beautiful calm environment, also admirable, I am very happy after visiting this exhibition," another attendant Isan Khan said, who enjoyed the extraordinary photographs.

The aesthetics of the photos were really eye scattering. “All images are compositional and aesthetical”, Antara said, a girl from Oxford Int. School.

“It was supposed to be a casual visit but it turned out to be an overwhelming experience”, she added.

Hidden dreams . Photo credit: Shafquat Rahman.

"Some of the photographs are deeply moving and invigorating. The one with a girl in black holding an umbrella as if to protect her but looking forward as to fulfill a dream," Rizvi said, another photoghrapher who was hosting the exhibition.

"Another striking image which will take a long time to escape everyone’s mind was the one with the little boy participating in a prayer most likely to be in a marriage ceremony. It is amazing by how children are influenced by us," Redwan Rahman said, another young photographer.

The young photographers as well as the students are encouraged through the overwhelming photos of Sony and everybody wished them good luck for their future progress.

"I can think of very few photographs that have captured that children image. I wish them the best with future exhibition- Sony," Redwaan added.

Edited By: Nabiba Tabassum

Innovations in Bangladeshi Arts.

Seedra Kalim and Shafquat Rahman, ULAB.

17^th Asian Art Biennial Bangladesh (AABB) has successfully unveiled the extraordinary concept, “Art and The City" by expressing urbanization and technological advancement in art works of Asian artists.

Existentialism. Photo credit: Mahmuda Binta Imam

Child marriage, fanaticism, globalization, urbanization, decay of human body, fashion, sexism, dream, forgetting the past, traffic and many such other concepts are presented as an important message to the human race in this art exhibition.

"The main focus of AABB is to reflect on awareness of material changes as technological advancement, expansion urbanization rather than the political and ideological themes that separate nations," Sabina Alam said, one of the organizers of AABB.

People from various corners of the world have visited  and participated in AABB for the first time and also they are astonished by the progress of Bangladeshi artists.

"I am amazed observing the artistic expressions Bangladeshi artists have shown," said an artist from Australia."I have visited Melbourne, Singapore and other countries but what I saw here, really impressed me," he added.

"I am participating for the fifth time and I only visit Bangladesh for to participate in AABB," Musa Omar said, an artist from Oman.

Also he mentioned, "I am impressed that Bangladeshi Artists are working very hard and they should not be disheartened if they are not getting prize for it because they will find a lot of platforms to prove themselves so they should keep moving forward."

Art is a passion and a profession as well but its real motive is one, to serve the human race.

"Art is a passion, Art is the oxygen for an artist and the main motive of art is to do well for the human race," Niyazuddin said, a Sub-Inspector (Ramna Thana) and an artist himself in his first visit in the 17^th AABB. 

All are  actually forgetting their past and moving fast to keep pace with the technological and materialistic changes in day-to day life was also important theme. 

"Everybody forgets the past, only running behind modernity , where the respect has gone?," Musa added.

Believes and superstitions. Photo credit: Nabiba Tabassum.

A Chinese woman feels excited after seeing the creativity of Bangladeshi artists."I am feeling very much excited after visiting the AABB and astonished how the artists have expressed themselves through their exceptional work," Yoyen Yoyen said. "I would like to visit Bangladesh again," Yoyen added.

Another man from China who visited Bangladesh for the first time told that he could feel and see his imagination in the Artwork of Bangladeshi artists.

"The Bangladeshi artists have discovered my internal feelings and put it into Art form,"Tang Zhi Kang said. "I doubt whether the Chinese artists will be able to understand and do the same," he added.

Child marriage is a big concern in Bangladesh. One of the art shows the concept of child marriage, as girls aged 12–17 are married and within a short time they are being pregnant that is affecting their mental growth and health.

They also have to earn in order to raise their children and ultimately they are becoming widows at a very young age. It also signifies the lurk people of the society who are always thinking to take advantages from those helpless women.

The above mentioned Artwork gains the Honorable mention award worth Taka 300,000/= (three hundred thousand), done by a Bengali female artist.

Edited By: Ahmed Imtiaz Mohammad.

Approach to history through Films

Mohammad Riead hasan and Md. Yeasen Hossain

Tahmidal Zami, a guest speaker discussing about the independence movement during Pakistan period. Photo: Md. Yeasen Hossain

To introduce the history of independence movement, "Cholochitre Itihash Path" titled a film screening event was held in ULAB.
This film exhibition was organized by Cinemascope starting from 1 December-3 December based on the  independence movement and its effects in Indian subcontinent.

Film and history is related to one another. According to Mohammad Shazzad Hoassain, adviser of Cinemascope and senior lecturer of ULAB, history is important for mass people. People have to watch films to know the history. Because it gives us the instructions to understand the current situation. 

"If we don’t know the history, then we can’t deal with the present situation. If we want to understand what is happening nowadays, we must know the history." “Films are great witness of history. That’s why we tried to introduce the history through films,” he added.

He also said that this event will help the young film-makers  not to represent the history in wrong way.

“Former great film-makers had given instructions on publishing a history-based film and what should be the role as a film-maker,” said Shazzad.

For the very first time Cinemascope organized an event which was totally directed in Bangla language. Its posters, banners, post-discussions after film screening all were delivered in Bangla language.

“As we are screening films to read the history of Indian subcontinent through the movement against the British, we have boycotted their language,” said Arif Arman Badol, research and publication head of Cinemascope.

There was a discussion session after screening each film. On first day of this event, the guest speaker was Afsan Chowdhury. He described briefly about the film Muktir Gaan and Ekattorer Jishu which were screened earlier that day. On second day, Tahmidal Zami was the guest speaker. He talked about the division history of Pakistan during 1947. And Professor Dr. Salimullah khan was the guest speaker on the last day of this event. He described the period of 1857.

These discussion sessions were held to get the background information and clear idea of those screened films.

“We arranged a discussion session after screening each film. After watching a particular film, we had some ideas which were not clear or correct. But after the discussion session, we got a clear image on that particular film. Because the guest speakers described that film and gave background information on them,” said Mir Wadud Islam, CEO of Cinemascope.

Zahin hasan, a new member of Cinemascope family said, ‘The films which were screened during this event, were based on different particular movement in Indian subcontinent. The audience will understand how the filmmakers of these films represented that period and how they visualized them through films.’ 
This event exhibited 5 films whice were ‘Muktir Gaan‘-directed by Tareque Masud, ‘Ekattorer Jishu’- Nasiruddin Yousuff, ‘Midnight’s Children’- Deepa Mehta, ‘Komal Gandhar’- Ritwik Kumar Ghatak and ‘Shatranjee Ki Khiladi’- Satyajit Ray.

Ads Going Digital

Bishal Akash and Anower Hossain

With the purpose to share insights of advertisements going digital, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) organized a seminar titled 'Going Digital- The Asiatic Story' on 3rd December 2016 at the auditorium of campus A of the university, where Ferdous Hassan Neville and Md Abdun Nafee were the special guests.

Seminar on Going Digital- The Asiatic Story at ULAB auditorium

The Associate Director of Asiatic JWT of Digital Advertisement, Md Abdun Nafee has shared about the current situation of advertisement in Bangladesh. He said: 'There are a lot of agencies who are working in advertisements and they are all in the primitive stage ultimately. We have to come up with more ideas to make our marketing digital so that people would love to interact with us as digital does not limit in facebook only. So the agencies are looking for creative and effective solutions to make the advertisement digital'.

Many of the students of ULAB have attended the seminar. One of them thinks that the ad agencies should do proper research to be technologically advanced.
A student of the university, Sanjida Rahman said: 'The world is now technology based. We have to be advanced in technology to reach the new generation. We need to do research for this and the ad agencies or pioneers should take proper initiatives to do these researches'.

Another student thinks that the country should come up with innovative ideas for making digital advertisement.
Darud Rashid said: 'I want to see digital ad sector with more improvement. Bangladesh's ad agency should come up with innovative ideas for digitizing advertisements like we get to see in foreign channels. The university should arrange more seminars on this so that it can help us and encourage us to learn about it in this field'.

One of the students have shared similar thoughts on digital advertisements of Bangladesh.
Samiul Haque said: 'I would like to see better works in the advertisement field to make it digital in Bangladesh'.

The event titled 'Going Digital- The Asiatic Story' has been organized for the students of Masters in communication to enlighten them about the digital advertisement around the world. The event started at 4pm and ended at 8pm in the auditorium of the university. 

Rural taste for the urban people

Mezbah Ul Islam Utsho and B M Yasir Arafat
To give the environment of rural festival to the urban people, Showbiz Entertainment organized a festival at Rabindro Sorobor.

"Pran Chinigura Chal Nobanno Utshab 1423" titled a three day long festival had started from 30 November to 2 December regarding rural traditions and life related topics. In this harvest festival, there were nagordola,stalls of pitha, snake game show, bioscope, manuscript reading and so on. People from all ages came there to feel the rural environment.

Children enjoying bioscope. Photo: BM Yasir Arafat

According to Md.Saiful Islam, senior manager,marketing events of Pran group, the purpose of this event is to make a relation between urban and rural culture.

“Introducing one of the best rural festival of our culture called, Nobanno Utshab, to the urban people, is the main objective of this event. Making a relation between Urban and rural culture is the ultimate goal of us,” said Saiful islam.

Display of various kinds of Pithas. Photo: Mezbah Ul Islam Utsho

Rasel Al Mamun, a visitor feels the rural environment by seeing the chooner chal, pithas and bioscope.

“I am feeling the rural environment in the crowd of city by seeing chooner chal, pitha & bioscope,” said Rasel.

Mohmmad Selim,a bioscope manager who shows the bioscope in the Nobanno Uttshob, chinldren can learn lot thing about our culture by watching bioscope.

“Children of Dhaka city can explore the bengali culture by enjoying the bioscope show here. I want this utshab to held not only every year but also each and every day,” said Selim.

Especially the children enjoyed The Nobanno Utshob a lot. They were seemed the most overwhelming and dazzling.

"I am feeling awesome to come here. I have taken a ride on nagordola and tasted pitha,” said Tahmid hasan, an eight years old boy.

 Lots of  tasty native Pitha were displayed in this event.There was many stalls of pithas.And these were from different p;aces. And they displayed different types of pitha such as malai puli, ilish puli, rosh madhuri pitha, mal poa , pati shapta and so on.. They participated in this festival to introduce their native foods

“We have participated in this festival to introduce a collection of pitha from Comilla to the urban people of Dhaka,” said Biplob hossain, owner of Comilla Pitha Ghor.

There was a lot of crowd.People was enjoying so much by having these pitha.Many were taking them as percel in home for their family

The Nobanno Utshob ended by the prize giving ceremony among the winners of best stalls. 

Edited by: Mohammad Riead Hasan

Shadhin rises up for women

Mugdha Chandrika and Bishal Akash

On the occasion of the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women that was observed on 25th November, musicians, actors and actresses stood up to show their support for women in an event titled 'Rise up for women' that was organized by Radio Shadhin 92.4 FM and UNDP at Senate building of Dhaka University

Radio Shadhin and UNDP presenting 'Rise up for women" (Photo: Mugdha Chandrika)

The Head of the Program of Radio Shadhin, Rushnaf Wadud said: "This event is for the women who have been hurt at a point or who have faced violence. We are working on events for women because we believe in equal rights of women, we want them to live with liberty."
He added: "The moment we believe that we are male, we get to a point to hurt women as it is a male dominated society, so we are trying to make that stop, We even had organized a rally for this objective 2 years back where we painted a woman's picture on a wall and cracked a portion to show that you can mend the wall but not the wound."

The event is trying to bring solutions that can be helpful for women, where they brought policy makers to work on them.
Radio Jockey of Radio Shadhin, Nazir Hossain said: "We are trying to give messages to all of the women so that they feel safe in our country, and we want them to utilize the helpline that our government has provided for people who is in unsafe situation. We want them to know about their rights to use them."

One of the organizers shared how social media has been an effective medium to spread such initiatives.
Youth Volunteer of UNDP, Palki Ahmed said: "These are the media initiatives in a sense where facebook, twitter and radio as well have always been important mediums to spread the awareness messages. These mediums create a great impact on the youth and we have chosen radio as our medium as youths listen to radio."
'We are youth ourselves and I get to see my male colleagues are stepping towards the cause as well which shows that we believe in equality of men and women, and we are also trying to collaborate with other youths for this." She added.

The event has brought some of the bands to celebrate women power, in which Chirkut was one of them. A member of the band said to learn to respect women first and take responsibility of  protecting them.
The vocal of the Chirkut band, Pinto Ghosh said: "I want that the awareness should not only spread within Dhaka but within the country as well. I believe that people should respect women and not hurt them. People do not know how to talk to women properly so it is important to make them realize their mistake."

One of the audiences Mayeesha Rabbani thinks such events help people to bring a difference in society in case of protecting women,
She said: "The more we get event like this, the more we get to spread the message of stopping violence. This kind of events help you change your thoughts, though it will take time but it can bring a difference gradually."

The event 'Rise up for women' has been organized by Radio Shadhin 92.4 FM in partnership with UNDP Bangladesh which took place on 1st December at Senate building of Dhaka University. Bands like Chirkut, Joler Gan and other artists showed up and performed live in the program. Besides actor and actresses like Aly Zaker, Joya Ahsan, Sara Zaker, Rafiath Rashid Mithila, Deputy Commissioner of Victim Support Center Farida Yasmin also attended the program to show their support and stand up for women. Besides they also organized an art competition for children to celebrate womanhood.