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The first solo photography exhibition titled ‘Ballads of the Agonised Souls’ by Noor Alam is being held at the Zainul Gallery of the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University. The exhibition began on May 16 and will remain open from 10:00am to 8:00pm till May 22.
   Twenty-eight photographs are on display at the exhibition and each of them tries to narrate to the viewers about the struggling souls who are on the edge of a crude cold death due to Thalassemia. The photographer also tries to lock in frames the sufferings of the Thalassemia patients in portraits and still life images.
   All the images that have been captured into the slow shutter speed in his D70S Nikon camera have been on the roll for the last two years. The cause of taking these images is to express the pain and agony of the Thalassemia patients whose lives wither away due to the complications involved in this disease.
   ‘I have been capturing the patients’ plight affected by the deadly disease for last two years and I know that this fatal disease can only be prevented through mass consciousness,’ says Alam. ‘The battle against this disease cannot be fought alone. A social movement is required to uproot Thalassemia where the government, media, physicians, guardians, patients and everyone will have equal roles to play’.
   ‘After watching the images of the patients, my heart bleeds for the children who have been affected with the disease for no fault of theirs. Moreover, many die due to the lack of treatment,’ says Farhana Sushmita a viewer and student of Dhaka University.
   Another viewer, Einstien Hasan appreciated and thanked the photographer for arranging this exhibition that indeed needs a lot of attention.
   The photographer also launched a book titled ‘Ballads of the Agonised Souls’ on Shampurna, Pintu, Anika, and other children fighting the disease. The book is priced at Tk 500 and the proceeds from the sales of the book will go to the welfare of Thalassemia patients.

The department of English of Jahangirnagar University is going to organise a two-day international conference on Latin American Literature titled ‘Locating Latin American Literature: An International Conference’ which will begin on May 24, Sunday.
   Norman Thomas di Giovanni (UK), Susan Ashe (UK), Debesh Roy (West Bengal, India) and Arun Sen (India) are attending the conference as the speakers.
   Norman Thomas di Giovanni is a friend and a translator, of world famous Latin litterateur Jorge Luis Borges and an expert on Argentine literature. Susan Ashe is an author and translator of Latin American Literature. Debesh Roy is a popular Bengali novelist and Arun Sen is a critic and publisher in India.
   The probable themes of the conference are the ‘link’ between literature and cultural studies, the ‘colour’ of Latin American literature, the site and sight of Latin American literature , post-colonialism and Latin American literature, translating Latin American literature, the scope and relevance of the study of Latin American literature and so on.
   The conference will include a paper presentation in English or in Bangla (20 minutes), panel discussion/colloquium, poster presentation, cultural programme, and film screening.
   Interested people are requested to register their names for the programme with a fee of Tk 300. Spot registration will also be available.
   The conference will take place at the Senate Hall, Jahangirnagar University from 10:00am to 5:00pm.

Bangladesh National Committee of International Council of Museums arranged a seminar and an open discussion programme, to observe the World Museum Day on Monday at the Sufia Kamal Auditorium in Bangladesh National Museum, in Shahbagh.
   Professor Nazrul Islam, chairman of Bangladesh University Grants Commission, was present as the chief guest while Mohammed Shafiqul Azam, director general of Bangladesh National Museum and Mizanur Rahman, chairman of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation were present as special guests.
   ‘Tourists are very eager to see the natural beauty of Bangladesh. Upholding the natural beauty, we have to take initiatives in presenting the historical and archaeological sites to them to draw their attraction,’ said Professor Nazrul Islam.
   Mizanur Rahman said, ‘Parjatan Corporation and National Museum can work together to present the history and cultural heritage of Bangladesh.’
   In the seminar, Professor Dr Afzal Hossein, chairman of the department of tourism and hospitality management of Dhaka University, Professor Sufi Mostafizur Rahman of the department of archaeology of Jahangirnagar University, Sirajul Islam, registration officer of Bangladesh National Museum read out an article on this year’s theme, ‘Museums and Tourism’.
   Speakers said that there are 145 museums in Bangladesh and most of the museums get a few visitors. They also made some recommendations to further develop the present condition of museums.
   Later, Rabindra Gop, director of Bangladesh Folk and Craft Foundation and Dr Rezaul Karim, keeper of the History and Dhrupadi Shilpakala department of Bangladesh National Museum discussed the issues raised in the programme.
   In the open discussion session, a few people participated as the organizers wanted to conclude the programme as soon as possible.
   The programme was presided over by Md. Nazrul Islam, secretary of Bangladesh National Committee of International Council of Museum.

United Nations World Food Programme (UNWPA), Gallery Chitrak and Creative Communication Ltd will jointly arrange a five-day art exhibition displaying the artworks of 34 renowned artists of the country from June 5 to June 9, at the Gallery Chitrak in Dhanmondi.
   Works of famous artists including Syed Jahangir, Samarjit Roy Chowdhury, Hashem Khan, Rafiqun Nabi, Hamiduzzaman Khan, Abdus Shakoor and Chandra Shekhar Day will be on display at the gallery during the exhibition.
   Artworks of the artists were made during a day-long workshop organised at the Gallery Chitrak on May 15. The fund generated from this event will go to the UNWFP poor children fund.
   The organisers will also arrange a recitation programme by the eminent poets at the BRAC Inn auditorium on May 29.

The executive committee of the Bangladesh Cul_tural Reporters’ Association was formed recently in the city, for the next two years.
   The committee has elected 21 members including, Avi Chowdhury of the magazine ‘Business File’ as the president and Dulal Khan of the Bangla daily ‘Destiny’ as the secretary general.
   Mahmudul Haq Jahangir of the daily ‘Inqilab’, Ali Imam Sumon of the fortnightly ‘Apsara’, Ayub Ansari of the daily ‘Swadhin Bhasha’, Mujibur Rahman of the daily ‘Deshpatra’, have been elected as the committee members among others.

Book fair
   Rabindra-Nazrul Jayanti Boimela
   Organised by Muktadhara
   Time: 10:00am to 8:00pm
   Date: May 14 to May 28
   Venue: Public Library
   Shabagh, Dhaka
   Exhibitions
   Grand group art exhibition
   By 107 Reputed Bangladeshi Artists
   Time: 10:00am to 8:00pm
   Date: April 11 to May 22
   Saju Art Gallery
   DCC North Super Market,
   Gulshan 2, Dhaka
   
   Solo Painting Exhibition
   Nagar Ananda
   By Kazi Salahuddin
   Time: 12:00pm to 8:00pm
   Date: May 7 to May 20
   Venue: Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts
   House 275/F, Road 27 (old),
   Dhanmondi, Dhaka
   
   Solo Art Exhibition
   Recycled Magic
   By Bruno Ruhf
   Time: 9:00am to 12:00am and 5:00pm to 8:00pm
   Date: May 8 to May 21
   Venue: Alliance Française
   26 Mirpur Road, Dhanmondi
   Dhaka 1205
   
   Solo Painting Exhibition
   Achin Pakhi
   By Aforja Jamil
   Time: 11:00am to 11:00pm
   Date: May 15 to May 31
   Venue: Bay’s Gallery
   54 Gulshan Avenue,
   Gulshan 1, Dhaka
   
   Solo Painting Exhibition
   People of My Country
   By Bipad Bhanjan Sen Karmaker
   Time: from 10:00am to 12:00pm and 5:00pm to 9:00pm
   Date: May 15 to May 28
   Venue: Alliance Française
   26 Mirpur Road, Dhanmondi
   Dhaka
   
   A River Cruise
   Time: from 5:00pm to 9:00pm
   Date: May 18 to May 25
   Venue: Alliance Française
   26 Mirpur Road, Dhanmondi
   Dhaka
   Theatre
   Bhalobasar Jibanta Kabar
   By Grambangla Theatre
   Time: 7:00pm
   Venue: Nilima Ibrahim Auditorium
   Bangladesh Mahila Samity
   Bailey Road, Dhaka
   
   Founding Anniversary
   By Bahubachan Theatre
   Time: 7:00pm
   Venue: National Theatre Hall
   Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy
   Segun Bagicha, Dhaka
   
   Kanthal Bagan
   By Nagarik Natya Sampradaya
   Time: 7:00pm
   Experimental Theatre Hall
   Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy
   Segun Bagicha, Dhaka
   Film Screenings
   23rd Anniversary of the Zahir Raihan Film Society
   Jointly organised by Goethe-Institut Dhaka and Zahir Raihan Film Society
   Time: 3:00pm, 5:00pm and 7:00pm
   Date: May 17 to May 21
   Venue: Goethe-Institut Dhaka,
   House 10, Road 9 (new)
   Dhanmondi, Dhaka
   Cinema at Star Cineplex
   Monpura
   D-War
   Forbidden Kingdom
   Oparey Akash
   Basundhara City Shopping Mall