“Darpane Sharatshashi” was written by Manoj Mitra and originally directed by Aly Zaker, two towering figures of Bangla theatre. The 1992 staging became historic for its rare collaboration between Desh Natok and Nagorik Natya Sampradaya.

The finale opens today (Wednesday), January 21, at 6:30 pm at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Shilpakala Academy. Urmi Opera from Mohammadpur, Magura, will stage “Premer Shomadhi Tire”. The play is written by Nirmal Mukhopadhyay and directed by Shamim Khandakar.

Dwip, a gallery well-known for its bold approach to art and being vocal about every social issue possible, is currently hosting a solo art exhibition by Shikdar Saikat titled “This Show is a Waste of Time”. Partnered by Ghartera and Sarridon Collective, this show talks about the current social, political, and economic situation of our country, fuelled by ignorance, fascism, extremism, misogyny, and the misuse of religion, through satire and dark humour. But just like a usual “aware” millennial, the artist made unique, high-quality artistic memes instead of going for typical or traditional methods.

Curated by a team led by architects Marina Tabassum and Tanzim Wahab, both participants in the movement, the museum preserves graffiti, debris, and personal belongings left behind on the day protesters stormed the residence. Exhibits include bloodstained clothing of victims and the final letter of a 16-year-old protester.

Written by acclaimed playwright, director and actor Mamunur Rashid, “Guinea Pig” is a sharp satire rooted in Bangladesh’s socio-economic and political reality. The story exposes how ordinary people are treated like test subjects by the state apparatus and the affluent, highlighting deep disparities in how life and dignity are valued.

“The Human Voice”, written by French playwright Jean Cocteau and first staged in 1930, is a one-act, single-character play. It follows a woman speaking to her lover for the last time on the telephone. He is set to marry someone else the next day. Over the course of the conversation, heartbreak, fear of abandonment and emotional col

The festival opened with the Chobi Mela Rally, which began at the National Press Club and moved through the city to the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, culminating in an inaugural ceremony at the Jatiyo Chitrashala Auditorium.

The fair features a carefully arranged selection of stalls showcasing handcrafted goods, traditional showpieces, and local delicacies, creating a welcoming space where artisans and visitors can engage in a meaningful exchange of heritage and creativity.

The anniversary festival will feature both group and solo recitation performances. Alongside Muktodhara, several invited recitation organisations will take part in the programme.

Nearly 100 photographs will be displayed, tracing major phases of Khaleda Zia’s personal and political life. The images move from her early years in public life to her rise as a national leader, and through the long cycles of power, opposition and confrontation that have defined her career.

Inside the office, the smell of smoke still lingers. Guitars, tablas, dhols, khols, ektaras, amplifiers, chairs, tables, books, and files lie in heaps of blackened debris. Walls are stained with ash. Floors are layered with fragments of a long cultural journey.

The play, “Rangmahal”, was staged recently and received an encouraging response. Speaking to The Daily Star, Faruque Ahmed reflects on his professional debut as a director, audience reception, memories of Selim Al Deen, and what lies ahead.

Safiuddin Shilpalay inaugurated “The Color of Nature”, first solo art exhibition of artist Shahida Parveen on January 2.

Theatre organisation Ethik has announced that it will confer the Ethik Youth Award 2026 on 17 emerging theatre practitioners from 17 theatre groups across Bangladesh, recognising their contributions to contemporary stage practice.

“Tartuffe” is a bold and witty critique of religious hypocrisy, deception, and unquestioning belief. The play centres on Orgon, a wealthy man who blindly trusts Tartuffe, a fraudulent holy man.

The 16-day festival, which runs until January 31, will be open to the public and staged across multiple venues in the capital. The announcement came at a press conference held at DrikPath Bhaban.

Beyond his personal practice, Chowdhury’s most enduring contribution came in 1994, when, through sustained personal effort, he established the Narayanganj Institute of Fine Arts. The institution went on to play a pivotal role in decentralising art education and nurturing cultural practice outside Dhaka, shaping generations of young artists in the region.

The birth anniversary of Zainul Abedin, widely revered as Shilpacharya, is being observed today with tributes and commemorative programmes.

The doors are closing today at 9 pm. The event had audiences slow down, engage in conversations and explore works that celebrate local contexts, everyday absurdities and playful experimentation.

Several cultural organisations had scheduled the programme outside the Chattogram Shilpakala Academy on Saturday afternoon. According to the organisers, the event was aimed at protesting what they described as assaults on age-old Bangla cultural practices and the spirit of the Liberation War.