Promising painter, playwright and director Nazmul Haque Bappy was born in Dhaka, but grew up in Mohanganj, Netrokona. Completing BFA and MFA from the Department of Oriental Art, Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka, Bappy, with inspiration from his parents – Dr Md Nurul Haque and Rasheda Khatun Chowdhury, later obtained a higher degree in Chinese painting with a fully funded scholarship from the Chinese government.

Chattogram based musician Masudul Haq Liton passed away on Thursday evening due to a haemorrhagic stroke, at his residence in Mehedibag. After being taken to Chattogram Metropolitan Hospital, he was declared dead by the doctors. He was 49 at the time of passing. The artiste, who was active in the music industry with his band Steeler from 1986, came into the limelight with the song Tumi Ki Amay Ager Moto Basho Bhalo in the mixed album Mon Jole, composed and arranged by Ayub Bachchu.

Film shoots were suspended across the country for more than two months, to curb the spread of the coronavirus, bringing the film industry to an abrupt halt. However, as the government is slowly lifting the coronavirus restrictions and reopening certain industries, film shoots are set to resume from tomorrow.

Indian actor Sonu Sood, mostly known for playing villains in films, has taken some commendable initiatives amid the coronavirus crisis.

Renowned filmmaker and screenwriter Basu Chatterjee breathed his last at the age of 90 in Mumbai, due to old age-related complications, as per reports.

The fact that musicians, in spite of hurdles such as the absence of shows – their primary income source – are soldiering on to make new projects from the confines of their homes, speaks volumes of the resilience and passion that they possess. Bappa Mazumder has always been at the forefront of the music industry, which had been mired with issues even before the pandemic. The Daily Star had a heart-to-heart conversation with the renowned artiste about his new release, future plans, and more.

Film producer Mozammel Haque Sarker passed away on June 1, at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) at the age of 56. He was infected with COVID-19.

To provide courage in these trying times, renowned artistes Elita Karim, Mahadi, Porshi and Mahtim Shakib have lent their voices to Jokhon Juddhe Achi, penned by Asif Iqbal and tuned by Shahbaz Khan Pilu. Sajid Sarker handled the arrangements of the song, which will be made available on Gaanchill Music's YouTube channel, and other steraming platforms.

Commemorating the legacy of eminent television personality Mustafa Kamal Syed, a live programme titled, ‘Tumi Robe Nirobe’, about his life and works, will premiere today at 9 pm on NTV. The three-day programme will conclude on June 3, 2020.

TV shoots were shut down across the country for a long time, to curb the spread of the coronavirus. However, starting from today, inter-organisations in the television community, including the Television and Digital Programme Producers Association of Bangladesh, Director's Guild, Actors’ Equity, Writers’ Equity, Cameraman Association of Bangladesh, Presenters Platform of Bangladesh, Video Editors Association of Bangladesh, Audio Visual Technical Owners Association, Television Media Make-up Artiste Association, Television Assistant Director Organisation of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Television Media Production Manager Association, Bangladesh Media Lightman Association, Shooting Light Owners Association, Shooting House Owners Association and Shooting Unit Microbus Drivers Association have decided to resume shoots, with certain health guidelines. The leading inter-organisations can cancel shoots at any time, depending on the evolving situation.

Wajid Khan passes away

Wajid Khan from the famous Bollywood composer duo Sajid-Wajid passed away on May 31 at a Mumbai hospital at the age of 42, due to renal complications and COVID-19. His last rites took place in Mumbai.

Renowned television personality Mustafa Kamal Syed passed away at Square Hospital in Dhaka at the age of 75.

Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation (DBF) has announced creative initiatives to support the local arts and crafts industry as well as frontline healthcare workers in Bangladesh. Through these efforts, DBF hopes to continue their aim of community engagement during this time of crisis and inspire meaningful changes through art and collaboration. The foundation, in collaboration with the Gidree Bawlee Foundation of Arts, has launched an exclusive art project, titled ‘Bhumi’, to support rural creative communities during the pandemic.

A group of youths took an initiative to paint roads and important places in Pabna’s Chatmohar Upazila headquarter with messages to raise awareness on COVID-19 prevention.

JK Rowling announced she will publish a new children’s book, a fairy tale about truth and the abuse of power. The Harry Potter author said she kept the book in her attic for years and will make it available online for free for children in self-isolation.

Even though the ongoing pandemic has affected professional artistes the hardest, the rising stars in the music industry also face an uphill challenge, after musical events stopped altogether throughout the country.

Salahuddin Lavlu is a renowned actor, screenwriter and director. He reflects on urban social issues in his tele-fictions. In a recent conversation with The Daily Star, Lavlu, the President of Directors’ Guild Bangladesh, shared his views on the present condition of the television industry and more.

Back in the day, BTV’s Bohubrihi, Kothao Keu Nei, Ei Shob Din Ratri and Shongshoptok, brought families together under one roof, as they watched new episodes of the shows after days of waiting.

Qazi Anwar Hussain has decided to cast ABM Sumon as Masud Rana in MR-9, a film based on the novel, Dhongsho Pahar, from the popular Bangladeshi spy thriller series, Masud Rana. Helmed by Bangladeshi-born Hollywood director and actor Asif Akbar, MR-9 is jointly produced by Jaaz Multimedia and Silver Nine.