The closing ceremony on Tuesday night was marked by an energetic staging of Kazi Nazrul Islam’s "Swami-Strir Jhogra", a lively Leto drama performed by the theatre group Bohor Natya Nritya Dal. The production, brought to life by Banshari, left a lasting impression on the audience. After the play, singers such as Bijon Mistry, Priyanka Bhattacharya, and Mridula Samaddar graced the stage with soulful renditions of Nazrul’s iconic songs.

The much-anticipated annual Nazrul Utsav 2025 kicked off yesterday, celebrating the philosophies of Kazi Nazrul Islam, the national poet whose works embody a powerful message of secularism, humanity, and unity. The two-day festival, organised by the Bangladesh Nazrul Sangeet Songstha (BNSS) at the Chhayanaut premises, is scheduled to run from 5pm to 9:30pm, featuring performances by over 100 artistes from Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi has claimed that a section of former Udichi activists who have left the umbrella of the organisation long ago has recently left cultural enthusiasts, all over the country, puzzled by performing a street drama named “Mukhosh” under their banner. This section for many years, featured the previous-incumbent government’s political and cultural narratives.

A talented ensemble of third-year students from the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies will bring the iconic production to life from February 24 to March 1, at the Natmandal Auditorium, under the direction of Assistant Professor Tanvir Nahid Khan. The play will be staged daily at 7pm, with additional shows on February 28 and March 1, at 5:00pm and 7:30pm, respectively.

A group of Bangladeshi performers traveled to Paris to participate in the event. Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor of the caretaker government, was invited as the chief guest for the inaugural ceremony, delivering his speech virtually. On February 21, at the main event, cultural advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki was present and shared his reflections on the Bangladeshi artists' performances on the prestigious UNESCO stage.

The first-ever Munier Chowdhury National Theatre Festival kicked off yesterday at the Training Department of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA). The festival, scheduled for February 28, will feature 16 plays across eight categories, carefully chosen from a 15-day production-based theatre workshop conducted nationwide.

The cover art of “Chronicles of Allen Swapan” was designed by Asifur Rahman, with editing by Mehedi Haque and Sheikh Korashanee. The comic is rated ‘M’ (Mature) and is intended for adult readers.

On this very day on February 21, 1952, the streets of Dhaka became a battlefield, soaked with the blood of young martyrs, who stood resolute in the face of oppressive authority, demanding the right to speak their mother tongue, Bangla. It was a day that would carve itself into the collective memory of the Bengali people—a day when the language movement claimed its sacred place in history, and shaped the identity of the country, as a nation.

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).

Eminent Bangladeshi artist and creator of the iconic "Tokai"character, Professor Rafiqun Nabi, was denied access to the stage at an art exhibition at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka. The event, held yesterday, was meant to celebrate and showcase the talents of emerging artists from the university's Department of Drawing and Painting. However, what unfolded left many questioning the university’s priorities.

The rental fees for auditoriums in the Shilpakala Academy institutions nationwide have been reduced. According to the newly adjusted rates, the rental fee for an auditorium with over 500/300 seats equipped with split AC at the district level will now be Tk 3,000 for a single shift of eight hours (2:00pm – 10:00pm). Previously, the amount was Tk 6,000 for the first three hours.

Among the projects receiving grants in 2024 are initiatives from various fields, including film, creative technology, literature, visual arts, theatre, dance, design, fashion, crafts, and music. These diverse and multifaceted projects are expected to generate new ideas that will address global challenges, such as diversity and inclusion, as well as climate change.

This year, Barishal—Jibanananda’s birthplace—commemorated the poet’s 126th birth anniversary with a series of events that highlighted his enduring impact on both literary and artistic communities.

On the 126th birth anniversary of Jibanananda Das, one of Bengali Literature’s most revered figures, theatre group Theatre Factory is set to stage their latest production, “Komola Rong er Bodh”. Written and directed by Alok Basu, the play draws inspiration from the poet’s life and literary contributions.

Today Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, officially inaugurated the newly established Ananda Academy for Performing Arts (AAPA), as the chief guest. The inauguration of this project by the Social Services and Management Trust (SSMT) was held at SSMT House in the Baridhara area of the capital.

This moving love story was originally written almost 100 years ago by Urdu author Rahat Ara Begum. The tale of forbidden love between a prince and a servant has now been adapted into the dance drama “Dilnawaz” to be staged on Valentine’s Day.

As an admirer of art, the excitement was palatable as I could see legendary artists like Rafiqun Nabi and Monirul Islam gracing the premises – it was an exclusive first look of the event, arranged by Dhaka Storytellers.

Seventy-one theatre organisations from across Dhaka have united to form a platform to boost theatre practice by cultivating a more theatre-oriented audience, and invigorating theatre groups and members. Established last month, the platform is called Dhaka Mohanagar Natya Parishad. The organisation announced plans to host theatre festivals at various venues starting this month, led by the initiative of the board. As part of this effort, the first phase of the Dhaka Mohanagar Natya Utsab will span 14 days.

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).

What makes a visual artist tick in the cacophony of your typical modern existence, which in hindsight has the tenacity to make one increasingly distracted? One of the answers lies with the recently declared winner of the second iteration of the 2025 East London Art Prize, Laisul Hoque. This all-media art prize competition received 900 submissions from artists and collectives living or working within London’s ‘E’ postcode this year. Laisul won £15,000 (over $15,000) and the opportunity to host a solo exhibition at the Nunnery Gallery in Bow, scheduled for 2026, owing to his interactive installation art piece “An Ode to All the Flavours” (2024), which was selected from 12 shortlisted artists.