Renowned artist Professor Mahmudul Haque has been put on life support.

Eminent elocutionist and General Secretary of Sammilito Sangskritike Jote, Hasan Arif had been hospitalised at a private hospital at the capital a day after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 on December 2, 2021.

Popular theatre group Desh Natok’s production, “Jolbashor”, written and directed by Masum Reza, will be staged after two years, on January 19 and 20, at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA).

The British Council, in partnership with UK-based Women of the World (WOW) Foundation, will organise their two-month festival from January 8, with selected artistes and groups from five divisions—Khulna (January 8), Sylhet (January 22), Chattogram (February 5), Rajshahi (February 26), and Rangpur (March 12).

As we approach the New Year, The Daily Star takes a moment to mourn the stars we lost in 2021.

The decreasing rate of Covid-19 infections brought a new ray of hope for the theatre arena in Bangladesh. Artistes started being active on stage from the beginning of the year. New plays and festivals added splendour to the stage throughout the year.

Theatre activist Syed Badruddin Hossain was one of the founding members of Padatik Natya Sangsad. A theatre festival and award ceremony, in remembrance of him, is held annually. This year, the event was organised at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) from December 23 to 25.

Marking the International Anti-Corruption Day (December 9), Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) organised their 16th Anti-Corruption Cartoon Exhibition and Competition, as a part of their anti-corruption social movement.

The solo art exhibition, “Ka’-Shommondhiyo [Connected Speech]” by Azizee Fawmi Khan, is underway at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD).

The 20 minute technical show was showcased at the Liberation War Museum. Directed by differently abled British theatre director, Ramesh Meyyappan, the play emphasised on the theme of the 1971 genocide and Liberation War without the use of any dialogues.

Eminent dancer Sharmila Banerjee is the lead Manipuri instructor at Chhayanaut Sangeet Bidyatan. She also spearheads the dance school, Nritya Nandan. During the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971, she alongside her family were forced to flee to India, as their home in Raozan, Chattogram was completely destroyed.

Marking 50 years of Bangladesh, they performed at a programme in Delhi, India.

An exhibition of rare photos of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman began at Bangladesh Film Archive today.

Jinnatun Jannat’s solo exhibition, ''Naree Shutro'', is currently underway at EMK Center, Dhanmondi. This exhibition is a part of the global campaign, ''16 Days of Activism against Gender-based violence''. The campaign further included a series of virtual discussions, other exhibitions, awareness-raising workshops, and a cultural programme.

Bengal Foundation, in collaboration with BRAC Bank, inaugurated their five-day cultural festival titled, “Srijone o Shekore” at Bengal Shilpalay earlier today.

Observing the Martyred Intellectuals Day, a cultural programme has been arranged by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), held at Mirpur Martyred Intellectual Memorial, Rayerbazar Boddhobhumi, and BSA.

“Narir Shopno’’, a group art exhibition organised by Naripokkho, is underway at DrikPath Bhobon in Panthapath. Naripokkho is a women’s activist organisation striving for the advancement of women’s rights and raising collective voices against violence, discrimination and injustice. The exhibition is a part of the organisation’s year-long programme to introduce young women to this platform. Through this programme, Naripokkho aims to create a network of women across generations to strengthen the movement for women’s rights in Bangladesh.

Marking the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence, Samdani Art Foundation and Centre for Research and Information (CRI) inaugurated a solo exhibition titled, "Witnessing History in the Making: Photographs by Anne de Henning" at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy today.

As another winter approaches, Edge Gallery is set to host “Jolokabbo 4: Musings in Watercolour”,  a group exhibition featuring 78 artworks by 39 artists, where visitors can immerse themselves in the painters’ masterly brushstrokes as memories, landscapes, and riverine ways are brought to life through their work.

A remembrance programme for eminent educationist Khan Sarwar Murshid and social activist Noorjehan Murshid was held by Murshid Trust on Wednesday. It was organised marking the 9th death anniversary of Khan Sarwar Murshid at Noorjehan-Murshid Cultural Centre at Dhanmondi in the capital.