Artist Rajib Ahsen’s first solo exhibition, titled “Embrace of the Earth,” opens today at La Galerie of Alliance Française de Dhaka. The exhibition will be inaugurated at 6 p.m. in the presence of artist Professor Jamal Ahmed. Running until April 26, it will remain open to the public daily from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. The organizers describe the show as a deeply personal and emotional presentation built around themes of memory, place, and transformation, featuring around 36 watercolor and acrylic paintings.

The exhibition explores the connection between rural intimacy and the evolving realities of urban life. Ahsen, who grew up amid the rhythms of agrarian life, draws inspiration from real experiences rather than artificial narratives. His works reflect nostalgia, adaptation, and identity through vibrant brushstrokes, layered textures, and subtle use of light and color.

Rajib Ahsen’s artistic journey has been shaped by his personal experiences and deep ties to place and memory. He has previously participated in the Sixth Friendship Art Exhibition and Seventh Kahal International Art Exhibition in Dhaka, as well as the Eighth Kahal International Art Fair in Tokyo.

A new book titled ‘Bengali Muslims’ Hajj Journey: Historical Context and Early Depictions’ examines the evolution of Hajj travel narratives among Bengali Muslims. The work presents vivid portrayals of early pilgrimages, highlighting the emotional farewells at Ashkona Hajj Camp and contrasting them with the perilous journeys of a century ago. It references early 20th-century travelogues by Mohammad Badruddoza and Yasin Ali Sarkar, noting their stylistic influences from Fort William-era Bengali prose, and contrasts them with Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah’s 1921 account.

The book’s first chapters discuss the origins of the Kaaba, the universality of Hajj, and a glossary of related terms. Later sections trace the routes, demographics, and social traits of Bengali pilgrims, citing data from 1913–14 and 2023. It also highlights editorial inconsistencies and includes historical details such as the 1914 Hajj costs and the role of Bengali rulers in Mecca and Medina’s development. The author connects Hajj literature to broader political changes in Arabia, including shifts in Ottoman and Saudi influence.

Archival materials like the 1935 Calcutta Hajj Committee declaration and cost lists from 1920 to 2025 make the book a valuable resource for researchers.

The July Uprising Memorial Museum, planned at Dhaka’s former Ganabhaban after the 2024 July Revolution, remains unopened despite repeated government assurances. The interim government had announced the transformation of the royal residence into a museum honoring the student-led uprising, but bureaucratic delays and political inertia have stalled its inauguration. Although the July Uprising Memorial Museum Bill 2026 was passed on April 10, giving the project permanent legal status, the gates remain closed to the public.

Families of martyrs and injured activists have expressed frustration over the delay, blaming administrative inefficiency and lack of political will. Some allege that influential bureaucrats linked to the previous regime are obstructing progress, while others maintain that the current government is sincere and working to open the museum soon. The project, approved in July 2025 with a budget exceeding 400 million taka, was initially scheduled for an August 2025 launch.

The museum features thematic galleries using digital and visual technology to document the revolution, with preserved artifacts, letters, and footage. It will operate as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, with branch museums at former detention sites known as “Ainaghars.”

A special anti-war concert titled 'No War No Empire' is being held this afternoon at the base of the Raju Memorial Sculpture on the Dhaka University campus. The event, organized jointly by several political parties and progressive student groups, aims to protest ongoing wars, genocides, and imperial domination around the world. According to organizers, the concert will begin at 4:30 p.m. and feature performances by popular Bangladeshi artists and bands including Kofil Ahmed, Arup Rahi, Ahmed Hasan Sani, Ila Lalalala, Warda Ashraf, Suchin Marma, Kuasha Murkh, and groups such as Shohojia, Chorus, The Comrades, Bangla Five, Mavoi, and Samgeet.

Organizers stated that the concert expresses solidarity with people in Palestine, Iran, Lebanon, Venezuela, and Cuba facing aggression and mass killings. They also plan to demand the cancellation of U.S. trade agreements signed during the interim government period. The initiative reflects artists’ belief that they cannot remain silent amid global conflicts and humanitarian crises.

The concert is open to all, with the goal of using music and cultural expression to build public opinion against imperialism and spread messages of peace.

Recent archaeological excavations in Dhaka’s old jail compound on Nazimuddin Road, led by Professor Sufi Mostafizur Rahman, have uncovered colored pottery and artifacts dating back nearly two thousand years. These discoveries suggest that Dhaka was connected to international trade networks, including the Silk Route, long before the Mughal period. The findings also indicate that the city’s history extends far beyond the commonly held view that it began during the Mughal era.

Historical records and inscriptions reveal that during the Bengal Sultanate, Dhaka was part of a region known as Iqlim Mubarakabad, named after Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah. Two key inscriptions from the 15th century—one from the Bibi Bakht Binot Mosque in Narinda and another from Naswalagali Mosque near the present central jail—confirm the presence of a growing Muslim community. The first mosque was built privately by a merchant named Arkan Ali, while the second was a state-sponsored construction under Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah.

These inscriptions and mosque constructions demonstrate the gradual expansion of Muslim society in Dhaka during the Sultanate period, reflecting both religious and commercial development along the Buriganga River.

The Miyabari Mosque in Korapur, Barishal, remains one of the few surviving monuments representing the region’s ancient heritage. Built by Hayat Mahmud, a Bengali Muslim military commander under the Chandradwip ruler and later a zamindar of Buzurg-Umadpur, the mosque stands as both an architectural and archaeological landmark. Mahmud, who resisted British East India Company rule, was declared an outlaw, exiled to Prince of Wales Island, and later returned to settle in Korapur, where he constructed the mosque.

Believed to have been built in the late 18th century, the two-storied mosque follows the Shaista Khani architectural style, similar to many 17th-century Mughal structures. It measures about 70 feet long and 40 feet wide, with thick brick-and-lime walls and a roof built without iron or rods. The mosque features three domes, eight large minarets, and twelve smaller ones, and can accommodate around 60 worshippers. Two unidentified graves lie beneath its staircase. Recently, local efforts have restored the mosque’s beauty, and its ground floor now houses a madrasa.

The Miyabari Mosque continues to symbolize Barishal’s Muslim heritage and its historical defiance of colonial dominance.

Prime Minister Tarek Rahman will visit Shilaidah in Kushtia to attend the national celebration of poet Rabindranath Tagore’s 165th birth anniversary on 25 Boishakh. The event will take place at the historic Kuthibari, a site closely associated with the poet’s life and work. Kushtia Deputy Commissioner Touhid Bin-Hasan confirmed the Prime Minister’s attendance at the event.

The three-day celebration is being jointly organized by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Kushtia District Administration. A national preparatory meeting was held at the Secretariat to finalize arrangements for the occasion, where the Prime Minister’s participation was officially confirmed. The festival will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister at noon on 25 Boishakh.

Authorities in Kushtia have begun extensive preparations to welcome the Prime Minister and to ensure the successful organization of the national-level cultural program honoring the legacy of Rabindranath Tagore.

Gazipur Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Md Nurul Karim Bhuiyan attended the wedding of Sreemati Preeti Rani Bashfor, a motherless bride from the Harijan community, as an invited guest. The event took place in Gazipur, where the DC’s presence deeply moved members of the marginalized Harijan group, who expressed joy and gratitude at his unexpected attendance.

Preeti Rani Bashfor is the daughter of Ratan Bashfor, a worker of the Bangladesh Harijan Oikya Parishad’s Gazipur metropolitan unit and a long-serving sanitation worker at Gazipur City Corporation. Her late mother, Seema Rani Bashfor, also worked as a cleaner at DUET in Gazipur. The family educated their daughter, who is now a second-year university student. The Harijan community, traditionally engaged in sanitation work, is often referred to as Dalit or marginalized in South Asia.

During the event, DC Bhuiyan emphasized constitutional equality for all citizens regardless of religion, caste, gender, or origin, and called for unity and respect across professions to build Gazipur as a district of equality and harmony.

A traditional horse race competition was held at the two-day Boishakhi fair in Babuganj upazila of Barishal. The event took place at the Post Office Bazar field in Chandpasha Union and concluded on Saturday with the horse race as its main attraction. Thousands of spectators gathered to watch the competition, which featured five horses.

Local residents said that during the Boishakhi fair, relatives and guests from nearby villages are invited to enjoy the festivities. Visitors also came from different upazilas to witness the race. In addition to the horse race, the fair included magic shows and a Ferris wheel, adding to the festive atmosphere.

According to organizers, the fair has been held annually for about 40 years since the establishment of the Post Office Bazar by the late former union chairman Abdul Sattar Hawlader. They noted that the event strengthens social bonds among local residents. Police maintained regular patrols to ensure law and order during the fair.

The historic Teota Zamindar House in Shibaloy upazila of Manikganj, once a symbol of cultural and architectural grandeur, is now facing severe decay. The mansion, associated with national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and his wife Promila Devi, is deteriorating due to neglect, poor maintenance, and illegal occupation. Locals have urged the government to take immediate steps to preserve the site, which holds deep historical and cultural significance.

Built in the late 18th century by Babu Him Shankar Roy Chowdhury and Kiran Shankar Roy Chowdhury, the estate once served as an administrative and economic hub. The three-story structure, featuring 55 rooms, intricate terracotta and ironwork, and the country’s first Navaratna temple, has lost much of its original splendor. Many valuable parts have been stolen, and parts of the building have collapsed.

District Commissioner Nazmun Ara Sultana confirmed that the Department of Archaeology has taken over the property but little progress has been made in its restoration. MP S. A. Jinnah Kabir emphasized that government-led renovation could preserve history and boost local tourism and business.

The Marma community in Rangamati concluded their New Year celebrations with a traditional water festival held on Friday at the Chinghla Mong Chowdhury Mari Stadium. The event, organized by the central committee of the Marma Cultural Organization (MASS), was inaugurated by Dipen Dewan MP, Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs. He highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts for balanced development in the hill regions and recalled the historical role of former President Ziaur Rahman in initiating development plans for the area. State Minister Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin MP also attended, emphasizing national unity among all communities.

The festival, known as Sangrai, featured the Marma community’s traditional water play, symbolizing the washing away of the past year’s misfortunes. Participants, dressed in colorful attire, enjoyed music, dance, and splashing water on one another. The event drew people of all ages and communities, spreading a message of harmony and friendship across the hills.

Organizers stated that the festival aims to strengthen social bonds and promote unity between hill and plain communities through shared cultural celebration.

As-Sunnah Foundation organized a grand reception on April 17, 2026, at its auditorium in Aftabnagar, Dhaka, to honor 500 top-performing scholars from the central Dawra-e-Hadith (master’s equivalent) examination under Al-Haiatul Ulya Lil Jamiatil Qawmia Bangladesh. The event, titled ‘Qawmi Meritorious Student Reception 2026,’ ran from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and distributed awards worth Tk 4.5 million, including Umrah packages, books, and honorary crests.

From 1,119 applicants, the top 500 were selected based on examination scores. As-Sunnah Foundation Chairman Shaykh Ahmadullah presided over the ceremony, explaining that the initiative aimed to encourage Qawmi scholars who often lack national-level recognition and guidance. He emphasized nurturing research-oriented and confident young scholars capable of meeting contemporary challenges. Chief guest Maulana Mahfuzul Haque, Secretary General of Befakul Madarisil Arabia Bangladesh, praised the initiative as rare and inspiring for Qawmi students.

Other distinguished guests included senior Islamic scholars, educators, and professionals from various institutions. The foundation pledged to continue similar initiatives to promote higher education and research among young scholars.

Bangladeshi expatriates across the world celebrated the Bengali New Year 1433 with vibrant cultural events reflecting their heritage and traditions. In Porto, Portugal, the Centro Cinema Batalha and Porto Bangladesh Community jointly organized a pitha festival featuring traditional sweets and a screening of the Bangladeshi film 'Borbad'. Organizers said such initiatives help preserve Bengali culture abroad.

In New York, USA, festivities at Times Square and Jackson Heights included processions, music, dance, and folk performances, creating a festive atmosphere reminiscent of Bangladesh. Traditional foods like panta-ilish and pitha, along with children’s participation, added to the celebration. In Cairo, Egypt, Bangladeshi students from several universities held a Boishakhi event at Heliopolis International Park with cultural shows, sports, and local cuisine. Malaysian expatriates also marked the day with songs, poetry, and traditional foods in red-and-white attire.

Participants emphasized that these events not only bring joy but also serve as a bridge for younger generations to connect with Bengali culture, reaffirming that the spirit of Boishakh endures across distances.

Bangladesh welcomed the Bengali New Year 1433 with nationwide festivities centered in Dhaka, marked by a call for democracy and harmony. The day began at dawn under the banyan tree in Ramna Park with performances by Chhayanaut artists. This year’s celebration carried deeper political and cultural significance following the July uprising, blending joy with aspirations for justice and renewal. The traditional ‘Mangal Shobhajatra’ was renamed ‘Baishakhi Shobhajatra,’ themed ‘Harmony of the New Year, Revival of Democracy,’ led by Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor A.B.M. Obaidul Islam and attended by cultural figures and the Minister for Culture.

Political parties including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, and Amar Bangladesh Party joined the celebrations through rallies and fairs. The NCP organized a colorful fair at Banglamotor, while BNP’s cultural wing JASAS arranged music and dance events across the capital. Dhaka University became the festival’s epicenter with exhibitions, puppet shows, and traditional games. Tight security ensured a peaceful environment, allowing citizens to celebrate freely.

The UNESCO-recognized festival reflected a collective hope for a humane and democratic Bangladesh, transcending divisions and celebrating cultural identity.

The ‘Boishakhi Entrepreneur Fair 1433’ at the University of Chittagong campus featured a mix of traditional Bangladeshi products and imported Chinese items. The two-day event, organized by the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CHAKSU), took place at the university’s Buddijibi Chattar and drew a large number of visitors. The fair was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mohammad Al-Forkan, with 75 stalls participating.

Among the highlights, the ‘Karukuti’ stall attracted attention with eco-friendly jute bags, floor mats, betel-nut shell plates, and shoes made from cooling mats. The marketing manager said their products are registered under the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation and the Ministry of Jute. Another stall, ‘Gift Basket by Kaniz Girls Priority,’ sold Chinese skincare products, jewelry, and artificial nails, drawing crowds of female students. Participants expressed satisfaction with sales and enthusiasm for future ventures.

Organizers stated that the fair aims to encourage student entrepreneurship and promote local products. Awards will be given to the top three stalls based on product quality and presentation after the event concludes.