To mark the occasion of Buddha Purnima, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, has organised a simultaneous cultural festival across six districts, including Dhaka, for today at 7pm. While the Buddhist holiday falls on May 11 this year, the festivities are scheduled a day in advance.

Today marks the 164th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel laureate whose literary brilliance and humanist ideals continue to inspire generations. Across Bangladesh, cultural institutions are paying homage to the iconic poet with a wide range of commemorative events.

A standout moment of the evening was the rendition of the well-known wartime song “Smuglyanka”, with Chernukhin’s piano evoking a mood of tenderness and longing.

All Quiet on the Western Front (Little, Brown and Company, 1929), a semi-autobiographical novel authored by a German World War I veteran, Erich Maria Remarque, is one of the greatest anti-war works of literature—one that was published nearly a century back and still holds relevance today

Multiple theatre troupes claim they applied to book shows during these “reserved” slots — and were denied. When the list of reservations became public, the frustration spilled onto social media. On the Facebook group “Theatre Connection,” theatre activist Zubair Zahid posted a blunt question: “What kind of artistic practice requires 54 working days across three auditoriums?”

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has launched three specialised training workshops today, under the management of its Training Department. The inaugural event took place at 10 AM at the academy premises, officially opened by A.F.M. Nurur Rahman, Director of the Training Department.

The Chaitra Sankranti Band Show and Cultural Programme officially commenced this afternoon at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka, celebrating the end of the Bengali calendar year with a vibrant celebration of traditional music and modern performances.

Farooki declared that this year’s New Year celebrations would bring together not just Bengali citizens, but also 27 ethnic communities from across the country. “Diversity is our most powerful and beautiful asset,” he said.

To celebrate the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has arranged a Chand raat special musical event. The programme will take place today at 7 pm at Nandan Mancha, featuring performances by Emon Chowdhury, Nancy, and Qawwal Ahmed Noor Ameri. Ameri is well-known for his expertise in Qawwali and Maizbhandari music.

The Bangladesh Short Film Forum (BSFF) has organised a memorial event in honour of filmmaker, film activist, and educator Zahidur Rahim Anjan, who previously served as the organisation’s president.

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).

The three-day Burning Crab Festival came to a close, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the hill tracts and coastal regions. Hosted at the Mermaid Beach Resort, the event featured six stages, each showcasing a diverse array of performances.

For the first time, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy is set to organise the Munier Chowdhury National Theatre Festival, with a 15-day, production-based theatre workshop already underway across the country in three phases.

Theatre troupe Aranyak Natyadal has organised a month-long festival to commemorate its 53rd anniversary this year, featuring a series of performances and events. The celebrations will take place at the Mahila Samiti Auditorium and the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), beginning tomorrow.

Tarunner Utsab (Youth Festival) 2025, organised by the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, is currently being celebrated nationwide. The programmes are being held at district, divisional, and central levels. As part of this initiative, the Music, Dance, and Recitation Department of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has organised the band music event “Bol Bir—Ami Chiro Unnoto Shir” in six districts and dance performances in 50 districts to celebrate the energy, enthusiasm, and potential of youth.

“Ek dofa, ek dabi”, “Bloody July in Bangladesh”, and “Shob Shabhabik”— each poster boldly bearing these statements against the fascist regime, painted exclusively in red, yellow, and black — were the striking artworks by Debashish Chakrabarty during the height of the July Uprising.

Yesterday, the Arts and Production Department of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy launched a live and interactive AR-VR (Augmented-Virtual Reality) exhibition titled "July Revolution on Posters", featuring Debashish Chakrabarty's artworks on the July Uprising. The inauguration ceremony was held at 4:00pm in the Jatiya Chitrashala Auditorium.

Among the notable schedules, the "Sixth National Sculpture Exhibition" will run until January 20, while the month-long exhibition titled "2024: Oi Nutoner Keton Ore" will feature posters, paintings, photography, videography, and cartoons and conclude on January 17. Additionally, the National Pitha Festival will be held on the Academy grounds from January 24 to February 1.

Although theatrical productions continued into the early part of the year, political instability gradually reduced the frequency of performances. On July 19, "Anne Frank", a play by Mad Theatre, was supposed to be staged at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Shilpakala. However, the performance was cancelled due to the tense political situation. Soon after, the Academy shut down its auditoriums and rehearsal spaces, halting all activities. After nearly three months, theatre resumed on October 11 at the National Theatre Hall stage.

The performance, organised by the Conservatory Cell of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, will commence at 9pm and continue throughout the night.