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The solo photography exhibition titled ‘Survivors’ by GMB Akash is being held at La Galerie of Alliance Française de Dhaka in Dhanmondi. The exhibition, inaugurated on August 14, will remain open from 10:00am to 12:00pm and from 5:00pm to 8:00pm till August 27.
   The photographer has put 27 photographs on display and has shared with the viewers about how the people survive under sufferings. All of his photographs narrate the story of struggle, plight and deprivation of people of six countries, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Germany. The exhibition has attracted the attention of the viewers.
   The photographer captured the images of different inhabitants in different places who are struggling for survival in minimum accommodation. ‘Photo-1’ depicts this struggle. There are children taking rest during work at a silver cooking pot factory in this photograph. The photographer also has clicked a group of eight women with pink sari, starting a movement against extortion, corruption in photo-11.
   ‘We are always complaining about what we don’t have, instead of being grateful for what we do have,’ said Akash. ‘To me, those who don’t even have the bare minimum essentials and have no security or guarantee of life, and yet are still living, are the true survivors’, he added.
   He has taken with his camera the photographs on injustices, irregularities and social barriers and the dreams of the rural and urban people. He has presented the untold story of the survivors in society and has also captured their hope for living, rapidly fading away.
   ‘Compositions and the tonality of all photographs are amazing, definitely only the talented photographer can capture such appealing and colourful images’, said Asif, a photographer and student of Pathshala who visited the exhibition.
   Akash’s works show his talent and dedication in photography. He captures the socio-economic barriers of society and presents the photographs effectively, said speakers at the
   inaugural session of the exhibition.
   Photographer GMB Akash has achieved around 35 international awards, which include 7th Vevey international photography grant from Switzerland in 2009. He has also achieved the third place in photojournalism category in the 3rd annual photography masters cup competition in UK in the same year and the reporters without borders audience prize in the ‘Anthropographhia’ photojournalism competition on human rights in Canada in 2009.
   Akash had his graduation from Pathshala – the South Asian Institute of Photography. The exhibition titled ‘Survivors’ is his 2nd exhibition in Bangladesh.

New Age: You are an actor now turned into director. What is your feelings about becoming a director?
   Rokeya Prachy: Direction is a responsible job and I am enjoying my role as a director. As my works focus on the historical events I am very much cautious about the information I provide to the viewers and I always feel that I am still learning.
   NA: How do you feel when you are making a documentary on a historical figure like Abul Barkat?
   RP: Although Abul Barkat is a historical figure but unfortunately information regarding him was not available. It was challenging for me to dig out authentic information regarding Barkat. As I said earlier, I was careful to avoid historical distortion.
   NA: Will you share your experience during the shooting of documentary?
   RP: At first it was challenging as there was lack of information about Barkat. One example I can cite is that I had to just move through the Dhaka University halls and register building to collect the honours certificate of Barkat but I enjoyed the challenge. It was a test of patience for me. I have been to Mursidabad to collect the information. Shooting the documentary was thus a good experience for me.
   NA: What is the difference between an actor and director in your view?
   RP: When I play a role I just follow what the director directs and tries to make it real but when I am a director I have to direct as well as think about publicity, marketing, and listening to critics etc. But above all I love directing.
   NA: What is your future plan?
   RP: I always feel like doing something for my country. Right now I am working on documentaries on Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra and on language movement in a broad sense. Apart from documentary I am directing some dramas for the television channels.

On the occasion of the first death anniversary of the playwright Abdullah Al Mamun, the private television channel Banglavision will telecast a special programme titled Sangshaptak Abdullah Al Mamun at 6:50pm today.
   Abdullah Al Mamun began his career working in the Daily Sangbad as a journalist. The programme will include a special focus on his working life.
   Noted intellectual Kabir Chowdhury, Kamal Lohani, Ramendu Mujumder, Ataur Rahman, Mamun ur Rashid, among others, will speak on various aspects of the playwright. Researched and scripted by Kazal Rashid Shahin, the programme is produced by Shah Mainul Moon.

A two-day exhibition on dress and Sari by Rakhi Chowdhury ends today at Dirik Gallery in Dhanmondi. The exhibition will remain open from 3:00pm to 8:00pm.
   The speciality of this exhibition lies in the fact that the organisers have collected dresses and saris of different colours, keeping in mind both the tastes of the teenagers and the elderly women. It gives a different look to the fair as dresses and saris containing both simple and elaborate ornamentations are organised in a dazzling array. The dresses and saris that are included are made of cotton and half silk strings, and will be suitable for any occasion.
   More than two hundred dresses and saris with elegant designs are put on display for the stylish young and elderly women at the exhibition.

A five-day theatre workshop on drama criticism is being held at the training room of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital. International Theatre Institute (ITI), Bangladesh Branch has organised the workshop which began on August 18 and will continue till August 22.
   International Theatre Institute (ITI), Bangladesh Branch’s president Ataur Rahman and general secretary Nasiruddin Yusuf inaugurated the workshop on Tuesday at 3:30 pm.
   On the opening day, Pabitra Sarkar, ex Vice Chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University and Ataur Rahman discussed the change with time in the staging of dramas, drama criticism, aesthetics and so on. Sarkar stressed that for criticism the stage should be the main text, the critic should forget about the script, to him the final text is nothing but the play what will be shown on the stage.
   Mafidul Haque, Rudraprasad Sengupta, Shafi Ahmed, Afsar Ahmed, Abdus Selim, Mamunur Rashid, Israfil Shahin, Golam Sarwar and Lutfor Rahman, are the other trainers of the workshop.

The 58th Miss Universe pageant will be held at the Atlantis Paradise Island, in Nassau, Bahamas on August 23. Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008, from Venezuela, will crown her successor at the end of this event.
   Participants from 84 countries and territories will compete for the title and the pageant will be broadcast live on NBC (National Broadcasting Company) and Telemundo and a number of websites.
   Each contestant from around the world will be judged in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview as they vie for the coveted title of Miss Universe 2009.
   In recent years, the pageant has been exposed before an estimated worldwide viewing audience of approximately 1 billion viewers.
   Dayana Mendoza, will crown her successor at the conclusion of the 2009 Miss Universe telecast. During her reign, she has travelled the globe as an advocate for HIV/AIDS education, research and legislation.
   The newly crowned Miss Universe will go on to do the same.

Exhibitions
   Painting Show
   Kaleidoscopic Complexity
   By Anisuzzaman
   Time: 12:00pm to 8:00pm
   Venue: Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts
   Date: August 9 to August 22
   House 275/F, road 27 (old),
   Dhanmondi, Dhaka
   
   Photography exhibition
   Survivors
   By GMB Akash
   Time: 10:00am to 12:00pm and 5:00pm to 9:00pm
   Date: August 14 to August 27
   Venue: Alliance Française
   26 Mirpur Road,
   Dhanmondi, Dhaka
   
   Photography Exhibition
   Liberation War of 1971
   Organised by High Commission of India in Dhaka
   Time: 10:00pm to 6:00pm
   Date: August 20 August 25
   Venue: High Commission of India, Cultural Centre
   House 35, road 24
   Gulshan-1, Dhaka
   
   Calligraphy on Quranic cosmology
   By Sayed Zulfiquar
   Time: 3:00pm to 8:00pm
   Date: August 20 to August 26
   Venue: Drik Gallery
   House 58, Road 15/A (New),
   Dhanmondi, Dhaka
   
   Exhibition on documents and artefacts of Drama
   Birth Festival on Selim Al Deen
   By Dhaka Theatre & Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy
   Time: 4:00pm to 10:pm
   Venue: National Theatre Hall Premises
   Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy
   Segun Bagicha, Dhaka
   
   Photography Exhibition
   Liberation War of 1971
   Organised by High Commission of India in Dhaka
   Time: 10:00am to 6:00pm
   Date: August 20 August 25
   Venue: High Commission of India, Cultural Centre
   House 35, Road 24, Gulshan-1
   
   Seminar
   Natun Natyabhasha: Rabindranath, Badal Sarkar o Selim Al Deen
   Organised by Selim Al Deen Pathshala
   Time: 10:30am
   Venue: Seminar Room (7th Floor)
   Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy
   Segun Bagicha, Dhaka
   Theatre
   Birth Festival on Selim Al Deen
   By Dhaka Theatre & Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy
   Date: August 17 to August 21
   Time: 7:30pm
   Dhaboman
   Directed by Shimul Yusuf
   Venue: National Theatre Hall
   Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy
   Segun Bagicha, Dhaka
   
   Half Akhrai
   By Udichi (Drama Department)
   Time: 7:30pm
   Venue: Experimental Theatre Hall
   Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy
   Segun Bagicha, Dhaka
   
   Shei Shab Dinguli
   By Nagarik Natyangan
   Time: 7:30pm
   Venue: Nilima Ibrahim Auditorium
   Bangladesh Mahila Samity
   Bailey Road, Dhaka
   
   Recitation, Music and Dance programme
   Bhanga Haater Mela
   Recitation by Laila Afroz
   Music by Shimul Yusuf
   Dance by Munmun Ahmed
   Flute: Jalal
   Time: 9:30pm
   Venue: National Theatre Hall Premises
   Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy
   Segun Bagicha, Dhaka
   Films
   Naissance des Pieuvres
   Organised by Alliance Française
   Time: 5:00pm
   Venue: Alliance Française
   26 Mirpur Road,
   Dhanmondi, Dhaka
   
   Bhangoner Shabda Shuni
   Directed by Nasir Uddin Yusuf
   Time: 5:30pm
   Putra
   Directed by Mohammed Jasim Uddin
   Time: 7:30pm
   Venue: Studio Theatre Hall
   Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy
   Segun Bagicha, Dhaka
   
   Film Show at Star Cineplex
   Pink Panther 2
   Monpura
   Quantum of Solace
   Basundhara City Shopping Mall
   Panthapath, Dhaka