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Progressive cultural organisation Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi celebrated its 41st founding anniversary through songs, dances and recitation at the Teacher-Student Centre of Dhaka University on Thursday evening.
   The organisation also honoured veteran communist activist and academician Sardar Fazlul Karim on the occasion.
   Dhaka University’s Professor Khan Sarwar Murshid inaugurated the programme presided over by Udichi president Golam Mohammad and attended, among others, by Communist Party president Manzurul Ahsan Khan, International Theatre Institute president Ramendra Majumder and Udichi’s general secretary Habibul Alam.
   Addressing the function, Khan Sarwar Musrshid said ‘I am happy that Udichi is always taking part in social movements for the last 41 years and hope that the organisation will continue their activities against the social problems.’
   Other speakers at the programme said Udichi is not only a cultural organisation but is also morally obligated to the people and society.
   The non-communal and progressive cultural organisation that believes in using music for political purposes, is a platform against social oppression and an inspiration for other cultural organisations of the country, they added.
   The discussion was followed by a colourful cultural programme of songs, dances and recitations.
   Earlier, the programme started with national anthem and theme song of the Udichi and lighting of 41 candles by 41 members of the organisation to mark the 41st founding anniversary.
   Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi was established by Satyen Sen on October 29, 1968 in the wake of the mass uprising against autocracy and the activities later spread throughout the country turning it into a powerful cultural organisation.
   ‘With the passing of time, Udichi opened 200 branches of music, drama, dance, fine arts and literature in 65 district branches of the organisation that now has around 9,000 members,’ Golam Mohammad told New Age
   Udichi also has six foreign branches, two in London and one each in New York, Paris, Sydney and Toronto, he added.
   Udichi has staged many plays, mostly street plays. Its major stage productions include Narak Guljar, Michhil, Dhola Geramer Naam, Abhishapta Nagari, Chirakumar Sabha, Bibaha Utsab, Shubhra Timir and Chile Kothar Sepai, Boubasanti, Half Akhrai and Freedom of the City.
   Popular street plays are Aro Manus Chai, Din Badaler Pala, Raja Raja Khela, Madarir Khel, Tebhagar Pala, Rajakarer Panchali, Swadhinatar Sanggram, Ittihas Katha Kao, Punrutthan, Tatal, Bikkhipto Bhabna, Purnima and Gahana. Itihas Katha Kao has been performed more than 1100 times all over the country.
   Udichi has been attacked by suicide bombers of the Islamist outfit in Netrokona, te incident that killed eight people on December 8, 2005.
   On March 7, 1999, two powerful bombs exploded at Munshi Meherullah Maidan during a cultural function on the occasion of Udichi’s 12th annual national conference that left 10 killed and many others injured.

Launching ceremony of the book ‘Dhaka alias Jahangirnagar: 400 years’ by professor Enamul Haque organised by Standard Chartered Bank was held at the La Vita Hall of Lake Shore Hotel in Gulshan on Thursday evening.
   The finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith was the chief guest while professor Zillur Rahman Siddiqui, former vice chancellor of Jahangirnagar University. professor emeritus Anisuzzaman, professor Fakrul Alam of Dhaka University, Jim McCabe, the chief executive officer of Standard Chartered Bank, Bangladesh were also present at the event.
   ‘Dhaka has witnessed many historical changes for more than 400 years. It had always been an important city in the subcontinent. This book presents a collage of information about Dhaka’s art and culture, architecture and education, set amidst the backdrop of economic and political changes, spanning four centuries. This book will help us contribute significantly to preserving the history of Dhaka’, said Abul Mal Abdul Muhit.
   Professor Fakrul Alam discussed various aspects of the book and suggested adding some impotent information.
   Enamul Haque, the author of the book said that the book is a result of his whole life’s industry and it takes two years to accumulate all information regarding the history of 400 years of Dhaka.
   The International Centre for Study of Bengal Art Dhaka has published the book and it contains 11 chapters with 570 illustrations focusing historical 400 years of Dhaka city. Standard Chartered Bank financed the project.
   The chapters include ‘Introduction’, ‘Dhaka 16th to 19th century’, ‘Dhaka 1858 to 1912’, ‘Dhaka 1912 to 1947’, ‘Dhaka 1947 to 1971’, ‘Education at Dhaka’, ‘Culture at Dhaka’, ‘Old and New Building’.

The first digital film for children, Durbin, was premiered at Star Cineplex in Basundhara City Shopping Mall Thursday evening.
   Famed film actor Ilias Kanchan, also president of Bangladesh Digital Film Society, was present as chief guest at the programme. He said producers, filmmakers and actors should work together to uphold the rights of the children. He also welcomed the producers to initiate the movement of digital films for children.
   The film, produced by Anupam Sangskritik Sangsad and distributed by Bangladesh Digital Film Society, is made for children.
   The screenplay and direction are done by Jafor Firoze. He said the film is targeted at the children. The film focuses on patriotism and social responsibility in the main, he added.
   The film is about a school boy named Labib who desperately seeks his father’s attention. As a result of his father’s business with his factory, he becomes obsessed with the memories of his departed mother. His gloomy appearance is noticed by his new class teacher, played by the director himself, who revolutionises the idea of teaching by appearing as a friend to the students, not as a threatening person.
   Apart from the message of patriotism and social responsibility, the film sends out the message of how adults, parents and others, should treat the children — with affection, not with intrusive attitudes.

A two-day final round of competition for the school students of Dhaka city titled Citi Agameer Alo jointly organised by Bishwa Sahitya Kendra and Citibank, N. A. started at the Plaza Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Friday morning.
   President of the Bishwa Sahitya Kendra Abdullah Abu Sayeed, television personality Ali Imam, actor Khairul Alam Sabuj, novelist Imdadul Haque Milon, TV personality Abdur Noor Tushar and Mamun Rashid managing director and citi country officer of Citibank N.A distributed prizes among the winners at the ceremony.
   Around six thousand students of the 50 Dhaka based schools participated in the first rounds of the competitions in three groups and among them 600 students are qualifying at the final round.
   The organisers said that the purpose of the competition is to help improve the reading/writing abilities, literary knowledge and communication skills of school-going children in Bangladesh. This program also has a cultural component aimed to enrich the knowledge of literature, culture and geography among the students.
   In the first days of the programme all the participating students were awarded a certificate and the top sixty was given book and certificate as prize in the competition of essay writing, geography play and recitation.
   The programme is financed by Citi Foundation, the philanthropic concern of Citigroup.

Oscar-winning actor and political activist Sean Penn may film a movie in Venezuela, according to the country’s firebrand President Hugo Chavez.
   Penn ‘told me was very interested in a film project ... that would most likely be shot in part in Venezuela,’ Chavez told state television on Wednesday after meeting the actor along with film producer Art Linson at the presidential palace.
   Chavez said Penn, who he described as a ‘friend of just causes,’ hoped to make a movie based on the 1953 adventure novel ‘The Lost Steps’ by Cuban writer Alejo Carpentier, which takes place mostly in the lush forests of southeastern Venezuela.
   The Oscar-winner actor, arrived here from Cuba, where he had reportedly sought an interview with its revolutionary icon Fidel Castro.

Exhibition
   Colours of Nature
   Rhythm of life
   by Gulshan Hossain
   Time: 12:00pm to 8:00pm
   Venue: Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts
   Date: October 30 to November 10
   House 275/F, road 27 (old),
   Dhanmondi,
   Dhaka
   
   Of Conflict and Harmony
   By Architect Mustapha Khalid Palash
   Time: 11:00am to 8:00pm
   Date: October 23 to November 22
   Venue: Gallery Of Fine Arts
   Asiatic Society of Bangaldesh
   5 old secretariat road
   Nimtali, Dhaka
   
   Sudurer Mita
   By Mustaque Ahmed
   Time: 11:00am to 8:00pm
   Date: October 23 to November 5
   Venue: Gallery Chitrak
   Road 4, house 21
   Dhanmondi,
   Dhaka
   Photography
   Indian Princes and Parisian Jewellers
   Organised by Alliance Française de Dhaka
   Time: 10:00am to 12:00pm and
   from 5:00pm to 8:30pm
   Date: October 30 to November 5
   Venue: Alliance Française de Dhaka
   26 Mirpur Road
   Dhanmondi, Dhaka
   Theatre
   Prakrita Purangana
   By Desh Natak
   Time: 7:00pm
   Venue: National Theatre Hall
   Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy
   Segun Bagicha, Dhaka
   
   Prakrita Purangana
   By Desh Natak
   Time: 7:00pm
   Venue: Experimental Theatre Hall
   Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy
   Segun Bagicha, Dhaka
   
   Beder Meye
   By Padatik Natya Sangsad
   Time: 7:00pm
   Venue: Nilima Ibrahim Auditorium
   Bangladesh Mahila Samity
   Bailey Road, Dhaka
   
   Film show at Star Cineplex
   Monpura
   Transporter 3
   Slumdog Millionaire
   Chiradin Ami Tomar
   Basundhara City Shopping Mall
   Panthapath, Dhaka