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Photo show on adivasi life at Drik Gallery
Rafi Zahed
The ongoing photography exhibition at the Drik gallery is an in-depth look into the lives of the people living in the hilly areas of Bandarban.
The aptly titled exhibition 'The Hill People of Bandarban' consists of photographs taken by Enam Talukder. The exhibition was inaugurated on August 16 at the gallery.
There are a total of 30 photographs on display. The photographer has an acute eye for details of the people living in Bandarban.
Each picture depicts the stories of the Mru tribe. Enam brilliantly portrayed Bandarban with the help of his camera lens.
Most people living in the city are oblivious of the lives of hill people, their culture and their traditions. For them, life is different, more stringent and less accessible to the bare necessities.
If one closely looks at the pictures, one will see the Mru people in all stages of life.
One of the visitors, a student from Dhaka University commented that 'I have never been to Bandarban, but coming here
was an inspiring experience for me.'
Another visitor commented that 'Enam beautifully captured the people and nature of Bandarban; his works deserves kudos.'
One would see all types of photos ranging from scenic beauty of the hills to the tribal dances. Two photographs created massive appraisals from the visitors.
The first titled 'Independent' depicts a small child climbing a steep ladder carved out from a tree, whilst the mother looks on for the safety of the child.
This simple picture narrates the level of hardships these people have to endure from an early age.
For a child living in the city, something like this is unimaginable.
The second photo titled 'Mru girl' portrays the beauty of a local tribal girl.
Many commented that the beauty of the girl is faded due to the hardships of hill life.
What is interesting in this photo is the way the girl looked into the camera, while posing for the photograph.
There is a sense of hope in her eyes and her winsome smile speaks of innocence.
This exhibition is a part of events initiated by Alliance Française de Dacca and organized by Bandarban Hill District Council and Bandarban Tribal Cultural Institute.
UNESCO also plays a part through their support of ethnic communities in Bangladesh. Drik is the venue sponsor.
The exhibition will continue till August 29 for public viewing.
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Traditional puppet show at Shilpakala
Robab Rosan
People have been using puppets to get them to speak the truth since time immemorial. A section of people, who are not outspoken, use the art of puppet to present the social malaise and political injustice.
The speakers stated this at the inaugural session of the three-day puppet show, organised by dramatics and film department of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, at the National Theatre Hall at Segun Bagicha in the city on Monday.
Mohammad Didarul Anwar, secretary, ministry of information, was present as chief guest while secretary, cultural affairs ministry ABM Abdul Howk Chowdhury was present as special guest.
Noted artist Mustafa Monowar spoke on the art of puppet as chief discussant and the academy's director of the dramatics and film department Shafi Kamal also spoke at the function. The academy's director general Qamrul Hasan chaired the event.
Mustafa Monowar said that the art of puppet is very deep rooted, not only among the Bengalis but also among other nations. Puppet shows are considered one of the oldest cultural activities in human civilisation.
'Though the people of different nations use the art of puppet in different styles but the purpose of using is the same,' he said.
The artist further said that the art of puppet in Bangladesh is unique because unlike many other nations, the Bangladeshi puppet upholds the spirit of secularism. 'Many of the stories of puppet shows are based on religious tales which at the end contvey the lesson of tolerance, humanity and people's freedom of expression,' he added.
The inaugural ceremony was followed by two shows of puppets, presented by Jhumur Bina Putulnach of Mohammad Siddique Omar of Brahmanbaria and Tulai Putulnach Natya Goshthi of Monidutta Adhikari of Dinajpur.
Jhumur Bina Putulnach presented the show presenting the problems of early marriage and Tulai Putulnach Natya Goshthi presented the ill effects of smoking, dowry and corruption.
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UK artist to draw murals in Dhaka, Sylhet
Cultural Correspondent
Internationally acclaimed British artist, Mohammed Ali, now is in Bangladesh to create murals in Dhaka and Sylhet.
'I will sketch graffiti titled Peace on the wall of the Muslim Aid at Uttara in the afternoon today while another work titled Oikya will be put on the wall of Madan Mohan College in Sylhet tomorrow', said Ali at a briefing held at a city restaurant on Wednesday.
'I will create outdoor murals with a message of peace to uplift the spirit of people.
'Art can be used as a tool for change and betterment of the wider society, he added.
Besides, a seminar will be held at the National Press Club at 10:30am on August 24.
Abedatul Fatema, Mahabub Shahid, Yahia and Obaidur Rahman attended the press conference, organised by Muslim Aid-UK Bangladesh.
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Toray bandha ghorar dim
to be staged August 24
Cultural Correspondent
Cultural organisation Tunatuni will arrange a special show of 'Toray bandha ghorar dim' based on Satyajit Ray's rhyme of the same title at 7:15pm at the National Theatre Hall of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy at Segun Bagicha in the city on August 24, said a press release.
Tapas Sen, also the production adviser, will work for lighting. Zahirul Islam Ripon will work as an assistant director for lighting.
Noted dancer Tamanna Rahman will work as the dance director of the musical presentation. Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul will direct the music while Subir Nandi, Rezwana Chowdhury Banya, Mahiuzzaman Chowdhury, Mita Haque, Rumana Islam Khan, Aditi Mohsin and Shanta will sing for the production.
The stage will be designed by Kiriti Ranjan Bishwas. He has also worked as designing costume and making puppets.
Proceeds will go to the flood victims and tickets will be available at Tonatuni's office at house no 55/1, road no 27 (old) in Dhanmandi, Shilpakala Academy, Bidya Bhaban on Bailey Road, Abuullaiya at UE Market in Banani, Amana at North Tower in Uttara and Grantha Mela at Hotel Purbani in Matijheel.
The organisers requested the school authorities to bring the students at the show.
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Book on Bangladesh politics
Perspectives and Analyses edited by Syed Saad Andaleeb
Political Culture in Bangladesh: Perspectives and Analyses presents the thoughts of prominent thinkers about political issues pertaining to Bangladesh about which there is need for serious contemplation and action. It contains ideas about the country's political culture, challenges of democratisation, approaches to institution building, issues of leadership and legitimacy, and the continuing saga of conflict between the two main political rivals and possible solutions. Additional chapters address the political economy of formulating national budgets, sustainable development, effects of politics on domestic savings, external political relations, and how to deal with a minority community - the Biharis - left since 1971 to the whims and indifference of national and international bodies to be integrated into Bangladesh society or be repatriated.
The Journal of Bangladesh Studies (JBS), from which the thirteen articles were selected, is the premiere journal on Bangladesh that addresses policy issues by encouraging articles from a wide span of social science disciplines and interdisciplinary areas.
JBS receives articles from and reaches out to scholars, researchers, and students of Bangladesh in four continents.
The Journal of Bangladesh Studies is one of the substantive projects of Bangladesh Development Initiative (BDI: www.bdiusa.org), a US-based think-tank of scholars and professionals devoted to the generation and dissemination of knowledge on development issues pertinent to Bangladesh.
Syed Saad Andaleeb has a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA. Currently he is Professor and Programme Chair of Marketing at the Sam & Irene Black School of Business, Penn State Erie, USA. He is also the editor of the Journal of Bangladesh Studies.
He has published extensively in refereed journals and presented numerous papers at professional meetings and has been awarded several grants, including the prestigious Senior Fulbright Fellowship.
As a Fulbright Senior Specialist, Dr. Andaleeb has been working with BRAC University's Institute of Education and Development to upgrade its research capacity. His present preoccupations involve capacity development in research methods and service research involving Bangladesh's health and higher education systems.
Political Culture in Bangladesh
Perspectives and Analyses
edited by Syed Saad Andaleeb
Price: Tk 650
The University Press Limited
61 Motijheel C/A, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
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Film on Brick Lane heads for Toronto
BBC Online
Controversial British film Brick Lane will have its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival next month.
Attempts to film Monica Ali's acclaimed novel drew protests from residents of the real Brick Lane in east London, who said the book was 'insulting'.
The movie, about a Bangladeshi woman sent to London for an arranged marriage, is directed by Sarah Gavron.
Iraq war documentary Battle for Haditha by respected director Nick Broomfield will also have its premiere at Toronto.
The 32nd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6 to 15.
Ali's Brick Lane began courting controversy shortly after it was first published in 2003, when a group of Bangladeshi community leaders called the book a 'despicable insult'.
The book's publisher said it did not believe the book's views were offensive.
Last year, production company Ruby Films tried to film exterior scenes on the real street in London's East End.
But the company abandoned its plans and shot the footage elsewhere after more than 100 residents took part in a protest.
Some local Bangladeshis claimed Ali portrayed them as uneducated and unsophisticated.
Brick Lane, which was Ali's debut novel, was short-listed for the 2003 Booker Prize.
Elsewhere at the Toronto festival, Broomfield's film focuses on an incident when US marines killed 24 Iraqis in 2005 following the roadside killing of one of their officers.
The war theme continues with the North American premiere of Ang Lee's Shanghai-set war thriller Lust, Caution, and Amos Gitai's Israeli troop withdrawal saga Disengagement.
Other films announced for the festival include former Friends star David Schwimmer's directorial debut Run Fat Boy Run with Simon Pegg, and Ken Loach's It's A Free World.
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British Muslims to stage Live 8
concert for Darfur
Agence France-Presse . London
British Muslims will hold their own version of the Live 8 concerts to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Sudan's restive Darfur region, organisers announced Monday.
The concert on October 21 will be held at London's Wembley Stadium and is aimed at raising awareness of the situation among Britain's 1.5 million Muslims amid claims of inaction and focus on other areas such as Iraq, they added.
'We are going for our own equivalent of Live 8. We are going for a concert at the end of Ramadan to celebrate Eid,' said Jehangir Malik, fundraising manager for charity Islamic Relief.
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