Tasrifa Trisha

If Bangladesh is symbolised as a tree, then the Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, and Indigenous peoples are its five leaves. Once a leaf is uprooted, the beauty of the tree is harmed — this was the heartfelt, pluralistic essence of the message conveyed during a cultural protest gathering organised by the Indigenous Artists' Unity yesterday.

Chobir Hat, a longstanding hub for students and progressives, reopened after a decade-long closure, symbolising much more than a physical space—it embodies a cultural spirit. The inaugural concert of the “newly independent Bangladesh”, titled “Awaaz Uda-Kotha Ko”, has recently taken place at Chobir Hat in Suhrawardy Udyan.

Raffan Imam, a Bangladeshi musician popularly known as Popeye, named his band after his stage name, Popeye Bangladesh. They have become yet another name of craze amongst the country’s youth. Being a permanent resident of The United States, Popeye can hardly visit Bangladesh for concerts. But this time he arrived in Bangladesh for his first solo concert titled “Popeye: A Night to Remember”, held at the Liberation War Museum of Agargaon in Dhaka on May 24 (Friday).

Exploring the themes of communication and miscommunication, promising visual artist Laisul Hoque created a film in 2023 titled "The Purpose Was to Document the Other Side", based on his mother's journey to London. This film was screened in three independent galleries in Dhaka.

Prominent Bengali singer Anjan Dutt has graced Bangladesh with his magical voice on several occasions, but this time his visit held a special significance—Mala's birthday. Mala, much like Bela Bose and Ronjona, is a character in one of Anjan's songs. However, both the singer and his devoted fans have kept Mala alive throughout the years, across generations. Today, May 12, holds particular importance, as it is referenced in Anjan Dutt's song “Mala” released in 1993, sparking annual celebrations of Mala's birthday and ongoing speculation about her identity.