Ashley Shoptorshi Samaddar

Cartoons, an art form packed with humour and wit, have been engaging audiences since centuries. They have the ability to express grave issues in light-hearted ways. However, not all cartoonists opt out for only serious messages.

Renowned writer and journalist Naushad Jamil’s latest book, Prarthonar Moto Eka, was recently released at the Ekushey Boi Mela 2020.

Academic, writer, and translator Dr Fakrul Alam’s new book, Once More into the Past: Essays, Personal, Public, and Literary, was published at the Ekushey Boi Mela 2020, recently.

The story of the film revolves around Kabir, a national boxing champion, who gets involved in malpractices in this industry. Inspired from the existing mixed marshal art practices around the world, the action film also shows Kabir’s inner conflict and how this affects his marital life with his wife Asha.

Celebrated writer Rudra Goswami has managed to win a million hearts with his love poems over the years. Two of his new ventures, Obhijog Nei, his 5th poetry collection, and his second novel Ghum Bhangchei, were released at the Ekushey Boi Mela 2020, recently. In the candid chat, the writer shared his thoughts and expectations with The Daily Star.

Achievements of female athletes are often side-lined, as in the field of sports, players are judged based on their speed, strength, and command, characteristics that are unfairly classified as masculine.

Renowned painter Syed Iqbal is a self-taught artist who has been living and working in Canada since 2002. Being an avid writer as well, the artist began his writing career with Kushol Ar Mrityu Buro (1978), a book for children published under the banner of Shishu Academy.

Film Critic and journalist Sadia Khalid will represent Bangladesh at this year’s Berlinale Talents 2020 (February 20-March 1) in the category for film critics.

Poet-academic-translator Mohammad Shafiqul Islam’s third book, Inner State, explores the current issues plaguing the world-- poverty, class inequality, climate crisis, warfare and terrorism, and the effects they leave on the environment and human lives.

Guiding young adults through their academic and professional journeys, Md Tajdin Hassan and Rafeed Chowdhury made their debuts as authors with‘The Transition: How To Move From Fear Zone to Growth Zone’, published by The Daily Star Books, at the Ekushey Boi Mela, this year.

Scaring off the social predicaments that plague our society, Kaaktadua, a youth-led organisation based in Sylhet, has been working actively since June 2013.

As a tribute to the legend Pandit Vijay Shankar, Prerna- Centre for Performing Arts is organising a music and dance ensemble titled, Sambandh: Bestowing Inspiration at Ghanshyam Das Birla Sabhagar, Kolkata. The programme will be inaugurated on January 18.

Providing young artists with a platform to exhibit their artworks, Gandaria Kisholoy Kochi-Kachar Mela’s Kisholoy Charukola Kendra organised their 17th annual art exhibition at its auditorium at Dinanath Road, Old Dhaka, recently. The three-day event was inaugurated on January 11.

Following on the trails of Wacken Open Air in Germany, 2019, Trainwreck, ended on a rather high note, along with their Kolkata and Nepal tour. Groove thrash metal band Trainwreck added yet another accolade to their list of achievements as they won the Global Metal Apocalypse (GMA) award 2019 as the Breakthrough Asian Metal Band.

As soon as December stepped in, my countdown began. With cold winter winds breezing through my windows, the arrival of my most awaited time of the year, Christmas, is announced.

Recently, UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) NGO Forum granted accreditation to the dance institute, Shadhona, based on their work towards safeguarding ICH practices in Bangladesh. They were accreditated at the 14th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, held at Bogotá, Republic Of Colombia.

With an objective to tackle road safety issues, Team Silver Lining, the champions from Banglalink Ennovators 3.0, came up with the idea of having a real-time fitness tracking device to provide On Board Diagnostics (OBD) for all vehicles across the country.

Baghinee.com, a website dedicated to Bangladeshi sportswomen, was launched at Janata Tower Auditorium in Kawran Bazar, recently. Tina F Jabeen, Investment Adviser, Startup Bangladesh, ICT Ministry, Government of Bangladesh, and South Asian (SA) Games gold medalist Humayra Akhter Antora were present at the occasion as the chief guests, along with the website’s founders Mostafa Mohammad Quamrul Hassan and Amrita Hassan. Renowned journalist Abir Hassan and his wife Nasreen Hassan were also in attendance at the event.

Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, AMAL Foundation’s 16-day activism campaign, 'Break the Silence’ on social media, aims to prevent violence against women. The campaign started on November 25. Women, especially from the working class, were asked to share their stories of struggle, and the organisation will try supporting them with possible aids.

Eco-Network, a youth-led organisation founded by a group of seven environmental science students from Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), aims to create an eco-friendly world. Established in 2018 by Shamim Ahmed Mridha,