“Gum Jaan o Joban” is a powerful tribute to the families affected by enforced disappearances, brought to life through the lens of artist Mosfiqur Rahman Johan. Over the course of three years, Johan immersed himself in the lives of these families, documenting their grief, resilience, and the haunting absence of their loved ones

Kafka's “The Metamorphosis”, published in 1915, remains one of the most unsettling yet profound explorations of alienation and existential dread. The novella's iconic opening—“One morning, Gregor Samsa wakes up to find himself transformed into a giant insect”—sets the tone for a story that delves deep into the absurdity of human existence and the crushing weight of societal expectations.

Today, August 27, marks the 48th death anniversary of Kazi Nazrul Islam, a day of reflection and tribute across the nation. Among the many commemorations, Desh Natok, a prominent theatre group, will stage two plays at the Bangladesh Mahila Samiti to honour the legendary poet.

On Sunday, the veteran couple, known for contributing to Bangladesh's cultural landscape, released a deeply resonating joint statement, passionately appealing to their fellow cultural workers to rise to the occasion, “We appeal to all cultural activists—our country is in the grasp of a severe disaster. The most catastrophic flood in recent memory has endangered millions of lives.

The capital's theatre community has come together to support flood victims, with troupes such as Ethic, BotTola, and Anuswar deciding to donate the proceeds from their performances to aid those affected by the disaster.

Marking the 31st death anniversary of legendary playwright and director Utpal Dutt on August 19, the Dhaka-based theatre troupe Ethic will honour his memory by staging one of his most celebrated plays, “Hari Phatibe”. The play's 83rd performance will take place on August 24 at 7pm at the Nilima Ibrahim Auditorium of Bangladesh Mahila Samity.

Theatre troupe BotTala is celebrating its 16th anniversary, marking over a decade of contributions to Bangladesh's theatre scene. Since its debut on August 27, 2008, BotTala has staged numerous acclaimed productions, including “Crutcher Kornel”, “Shokhi Rongomala”, “Khona”, “Rise and Shine”, “Soho Te Marx”, “Bannyatherium”, and “Jatugriha”.

Selim Al Deen, perhaps the most celebrated name of Bangladeshi theatre in the post-Rabindranath era, was born on August 18, 1949. The playwright, fondly called Natyacharya, is credited with ushering in a new era in our theatre scene through his plays and extensive research in the field.

Political cartoons played a pivotal role in the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, transforming the revolution with artistic brilliance and courage.

Neatly curated by veteran ASM Rezaur Rahman, even without a single line of caption on the gallery walls, one could effortlessly relate to the silent yet atmospheric reverberation of the photographs. These images adorning the gallery's walls capture snippets of life in Bangladesh, from recaps of resilience to the messes we've created, depicting lives that go on but also leave questions.

Theatre activists and practitioners have called for an investigation into allegations of corruption, nepotism, misconduct, and political bias against Liaquat Ali Lucky, the former director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy who has recently resigned.

On Monday (August 12), Lucky submitted his resignation to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, as confirmed by Salahuddin Ahmed, Secretary of the Shilpakala Academy. The resignation was submitted via WhatsApp, the secretary informed The Daily Star.

Chobir Hat, a longstanding hub for students and progressives, reopened after a decade-long closure, symbolising much more than a physical space—it embodies a cultural spirit. The inaugural concert of the “newly independent Bangladesh”, titled “Awaaz Uda-Kotha Ko”, has recently taken place at Chobir Hat in Suhrawardy Udyan.

Eminent photographer, activist, and journalist Shahidul Alam, who has established himself as a force of integrity, is also someone who is profoundly revered by the informed populace. Today, however, his red bicycle was stolen when he attended the event “Shrishtir Shadhinotay Shahoshi Bangladesh” (Brave Bangladesh for freedom of art) at Central Shaheed Minar.

With every brushstroke, SM Sultan brought the rural landscape and the essence of nature to life, capturing their beauty with unparalleled vividness.

The "Colours for Reform" campaign, which kicked off in the Science Lab area yesterday, comprises over 50 artists and 300 volunteers. The campaign seeks to preserve meaningful graffiti painted during the protests while refreshing Dhaka's walls with messages of hope and unity.

In the absence of the city's usual traffic management, a group of students have taken matters into their own hands. From directing vehicles to repainting the urban landscape, the young students are transforming Dhaka's streets in unexpected ways.

The artists demanded swift action to protect citizens and end the violence that became rampant following the cessation of the former government body. They highlighted that miscreants have been setting fires, vandalising, and looting in various parts of Bangladesh, including state structures, police stations, and historical landmarks like Dhaka University's Swadhinata Chattar and the historical Shashi Lodge in Mymensingh.

Under the platform titled “Artistes Against Genocide and Oppression”, a diverse group comprising visual artistes, photographers, performance artistes, musicians, poets, writers, researchers, architects, and art organisers, organised this rally of resistance. Their gathering was a response to the recent turmoil surrounding the quota reform protests, which have led to wholesale arrests and indiscriminate killings.

What defines a thought? Is it a solitary idea or several notions intertwined within themselves? Can a thought exist in isolation? Perhaps, thoughts are hardly innate, rather they are perceived uniquely in a continuous chaotic dialogue within the mind.