The first-ever Munier Chowdhury National Theatre Festival kicked off yesterday at the Training Department of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA). The festival, scheduled for February 28, will feature 16 plays across eight categories, carefully chosen from a 15-day production-based theatre workshop conducted nationwide.

The cover art of “Chronicles of Allen Swapan” was designed by Asifur Rahman, with editing by Mehedi Haque and Sheikh Korashanee. The comic is rated ‘M’ (Mature) and is intended for adult readers.

On this very day on February 21, 1952, the streets of Dhaka became a battlefield, soaked with the blood of young martyrs, who stood resolute in the face of oppressive authority, demanding the right to speak their mother tongue, Bangla. It was a day that would carve itself into the collective memory of the Bengali people—a day when the language movement claimed its sacred place in history, and shaped the identity of the country, as a nation.

Classical music and dance are among the most refined expressions of human culture, representing profound dedication, beauty, and tradition. In an effort to further promote and preserve these distinguished art forms, the Music, Dance, and Recitation Department of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy will be hosting a four-day “Shastriya Sangeet O Nritya Utsab” (Classical Music and Dance Festival).

Eminent Bangladeshi artist and creator of the iconic "Tokai"character, Professor Rafiqun Nabi, was denied access to the stage at an art exhibition at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka. The event, held yesterday, was meant to celebrate and showcase the talents of emerging artists from the university's Department of Drawing and Painting. However, what unfolded left many questioning the university’s priorities.

The rental fees for auditoriums in the Shilpakala Academy institutions nationwide have been reduced. According to the newly adjusted rates, the rental fee for an auditorium with over 500/300 seats equipped with split AC at the district level will now be Tk 3,000 for a single shift of eight hours (2:00pm – 10:00pm). Previously, the amount was Tk 6,000 for the first three hours.

Among the projects receiving grants in 2024 are initiatives from various fields, including film, creative technology, literature, visual arts, theatre, dance, design, fashion, crafts, and music. These diverse and multifaceted projects are expected to generate new ideas that will address global challenges, such as diversity and inclusion, as well as climate change.

This year, Barishal—Jibanananda’s birthplace—commemorated the poet’s 126th birth anniversary with a series of events that highlighted his enduring impact on both literary and artistic communities.

On the 126th birth anniversary of Jibanananda Das, one of Bengali Literature’s most revered figures, theatre group Theatre Factory is set to stage their latest production, “Komola Rong er Bodh”. Written and directed by Alok Basu, the play draws inspiration from the poet’s life and literary contributions.

Today Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, officially inaugurated the newly established Ananda Academy for Performing Arts (AAPA), as the chief guest. The inauguration of this project by the Social Services and Management Trust (SSMT) was held at SSMT House in the Baridhara area of the capital.

This moving love story was originally written almost 100 years ago by Urdu author Rahat Ara Begum. The tale of forbidden love between a prince and a servant has now been adapted into the dance drama “Dilnawaz” to be staged on Valentine’s Day.

As an admirer of art, the excitement was palatable as I could see legendary artists like Rafiqun Nabi and Monirul Islam gracing the premises – it was an exclusive first look of the event, arranged by Dhaka Storytellers.

Seventy-one theatre organisations from across Dhaka have united to form a platform to boost theatre practice by cultivating a more theatre-oriented audience, and invigorating theatre groups and members. Established last month, the platform is called Dhaka Mohanagar Natya Parishad. The organisation announced plans to host theatre festivals at various venues starting this month, led by the initiative of the board. As part of this effort, the first phase of the Dhaka Mohanagar Natya Utsab will span 14 days.

Among the recipients are late novelist Shahidul Zahir (Md Shahidul Haque) and poet Helal Hafeez, who will be honoured posthumously for their contributions to Language and Literature. Renowned photographer and founder of Drik Gallery and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, Shahidul Alam, will receive the award for his work in Culture and Education. Filmmaker Azizur Rahman, famed for his work on “Chhutir Ghonta”, will be conferred the award posthumously for his contributions to Arts (Cinema), while Ustad Nirad Baran Barua and Ferdous Ara will be honored for Music. Nasir Ali Mamun will be recognized for Arts (Photography), and Rokeya Sultana will receive the award for Arts (Fine Arts).

What makes a visual artist tick in the cacophony of your typical modern existence, which in hindsight has the tenacity to make one increasingly distracted? One of the answers lies with the recently declared winner of the second iteration of the 2025 East London Art Prize, Laisul Hoque. This all-media art prize competition received 900 submissions from artists and collectives living or working within London’s ‘E’ postcode this year. Laisul won £15,000 (over $15,000) and the opportunity to host a solo exhibition at the Nunnery Gallery in Bow, scheduled for 2026, owing to his interactive installation art piece “An Ode to All the Flavours” (2024), which was selected from 12 shortlisted artists.

The Department of Theatre and Performance Studies at Dhaka University is set to stage a new play, "Pakhider Bidhansobha” (The Parliament of Birds), from February 7 to 10 at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA).

Lokman, the founder of Dhaka University's Mime Action and the Institute of Mime and Movement has been amplifying unheard voices through his performances with the slogan "Let the unspoken words speak". Today, he is bringing “Laal Michhil” to the stage of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy to captivate audiences with his solo act.

When I was merely three, my mother, being a history major and a sibling to freedom fighters, took it upon herself to ingrain the Liberation War and the birth of Bangladesh into my mind. As a result, I grew up learning about “Shangshaptak”, the legendary sculpture representing the spirit of our Liberation War, by the renowned sculptor Hamiduzzaman Khan. I felt like I had hit the jackpot when I got the opportunity to meet him and learn from him during my third semester of the Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) programme. Finally, 11 years later, I experienced an exhibition dedicated entirely to him.

Theatre group Together We Can recently staged their silent performance, “Humane Dog Squad”, at the Rangpur Shilpakala Academy during a festival organised by Rangpur Podatik. The performance, which has previously been showcased in Dhaka, aims to promote empathy towards animals through artistic expression.

Each year, "Dhaka Makers" returns with the promise of celebrating Bangladesh’s rich artisanal heritage. This is our city’s grandest attempt at presenting a craft fair as the pinnacle of urban sophistication. This is not just any ordinary roadside haat where artisans sell their work at reasonable prices. It is an "experience" so refined, so exclusive, that one must pay Tk 300 just to step inside and breathe the artisanal air.