Yesterday marked an exceptionally beautiful moment for Warfaze, the band that shaped the childhood of an entire generation, as it received the Ekushey Padak, the country’s second-highest civilian honour, for its contribution to music.

Wise and distinguished citizens serve as guiding forces in society, says Prime Minister Tarique Rahman

Nine individuals and one band honoured for outstanding contributions to culture, education, journalism and the arts

Classical dance in Bangladesh has long been associated with discipline, hierarchy and years of rigorous training. It is rarely viewed as a space for those who did not follow the traditional path from an early age. With the Ekushey Padak, the country’s second-highest ranking civilian award, in the field of dance now attached to her name, Arthy Ahmed’s work is being recognised for both her performances and her broader vision of inclusivity within classical practice.

Babita is an internationally acclaimed film actress. After acting in Satyajit Ray’s “Ashani Sanket”, she was honoured in many places around the world. In her own country, she has received the National Film Award many times. She has also received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Film Awards. The Mayor of Dallas gave her a lifetime honour. She has received many other awards and honours as well.

Renowned rock band Warfaze has been nominated for the Ekushey Padak, the country’s second-highest civilian honour, marking a historic first for Bangladeshi band music.

In the cultural arena, veteran actress Farida Akhtar Babita, legendary late musician Ayub Bachchu, folk singer Islam Uddin Palakar, and pioneering rock band Warfaze have been selected for the prestigious award.

Today, I stood quietly for a while in front of Room 2064 on the second floor of the Arts Building—a place where I had stood countless times before, each time leaving with his warmth and affection.

Legendary Bangladeshi playback singer Khurshid Alam, whose golden voice once dominated the country's film music scene, says his fans still request his timeless classics. Despite his age, the Ekushey Padak-winning artiste continues to perform on stage and television with the same passion that marked the height of his career.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus yesterday said the country’s young generation wants to build a new Bangladesh and lead the world too.

In a unique move and a massive recognition, Bangladesh national women's football team were yesterday announced as a recipient of the Ekushey Padak 2025, the second-highest civilian honour of the country, alongside 14 other individuals for their contributions in various fields.

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).

Veteran television actor Jamal Uddin Hossain passed away at the age of 81, in the early hours of this morning in Calgary, Canada.

Renowned for her exceptional talent, Sharmili Ahmed captivated audiences with her performances in countless plays and acclaimed films. Notably, she starred in the country's first-ever serial drama and left an indelible mark with her role in the film "Abirbhab", which features the song "Sathti Ronger Majhe".

On Wednesday evening (March 13), the lifeless body of legendary Rabindra Sangeet exponent Sadi Mohammad was discovered hanging in his own room. His brother, Shibli Mohammad, was unfortunate enough to find his brother and mentor’s body.

A contentious debate has erupted on social media following the announcement of the recipients of the prestigious Ekushey Padak 2024. The government's decision to honour 21 individuals for their outstanding contributions across various fields, with 10 from the entertainment sector, has received criticism, particularly surrounding the recognition of music star Shuvro Dev.

It doesn’t get sweeter than a 90-year-old curd seller being awarded the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh, the Ekushey Padak.

The three-phase programme will begin with a convention bringing together over 500 thespians, and theatre activists at 4:00 pm, today. Awards and over 50 new play scripts will be delivered after the inauguration of the ceremony.

With the publication of his first collection of poems, Tabak Deya Paan in 1975, Bangla literary scene witnessed the emergence of a powerful new voice.

As he had actively protested against Ayub's dictatorship, and was indeed jailed, he felt compelled to protest against Ershad's dictatorship through his poetry.