Category: THEATRE & ARTS

Twenty-five rare paintings by late Indian modernist M.F. Husain will be auctioned June 12 in Mumbai, marking their first public exhibition in India. Part of his unfinished “OPCE” series depicting 20th-century themes, the works were valued at Rs 25 crore following legal battles over their ownership. The auction follows Husain’s record $13.8 million sale earlier this year.READ FULL

Theatre Factory’s “Komola Rong er Bodh,” directed by Alok Basu, premieres Friday at Bangladesh Mohila Samity. The play explores poet Jibanananda Das’s life and legacy, featuring his final nine days after a tram accident in 1954. Four shows run this weekend, with four more scheduled later. The production includes portrayals of key figures from the poet’s life with a creative team handling lighting, costumes, music, and choreography.READ FULL

Eleven Bangladeshi artists’ works have been selected for permanent display at South Korea’s Haegeumgang Theme Museum during the 10th Geoje International Art Festival. Three artists—Abu Kalam Shamsuddin, Sourav Chowdhury, and Azmeer Hossain—received Excellence Awards among 273 selected pieces from 56 countries. Additionally, artist Nazia Andaleeb Preema performed “Luncheon in the Graveyard” at Dublin’s Re-rooting Tallaght Performance Art Festival, exploring themes of identity and cultural intersections.READ FULL

A US judge has suspended the November 1 deadline requiring Google to open Android phones to rival app stores, following Epic Games’ antitrust case. Google welcomed the pause, calling Epic’s demands “dangerous,” while Epic dismissed the delay as procedural. The case challenges Google Play Store’s monopoly, which controls payments for apps like Fortnite on Android devices.READ FULL

Bangladesh commemorates the 48th death anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam on August 27. Theatre group Desh Natok will stage two plays based on Nazrul’s works on August 28 and 29. A discussion and cultural program will precede the performances. Nazrul, known for his rebellious spirit and profound poetry, passed away in 1976 but continues to inspire generations. His songs and poems, which fueled the Liberation War spirit, remain influential in Bangladesh’s cultural landscape. The nation remembers his enduring legacy of love, humanity, and resistance.

Google sales reps allegedly advised ad buyers on targeting teens through an “unknown” user category, potentially circumventing the company’s policy against targeting under-18s. This practice, reported by AdWeek, raises concerns about policy enforcement. Google denies the allegations, stating they strictly prohibit personalised ads for minors. The company faces scrutiny, with similar claims previously reported by the Financial Times. Daily Star

Liaquat Ali Lucky, Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy for over a decade, has resigned amid widespread leadership changes following the government’s downfall. Lucky submitted his resignation to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs via WhatsApp on August 12. His departure is part of a broader trend of resignations from heads of public organizations, including universities and the Supreme Court, in the wake of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.