The New Nation - Internet Edition

Farizaa Sabreen

The Banglalink Tourism Fair was held in Dhaka from 31st August to the 2nd September at the Exhibition Centre, level-7, Basundhara City.

The three-day event had many participants. Tour operators were participating in a big way, with a contingent of private travel trade, all out to woo the outbound Dhakaites.

The fair highlighted local tourism and brings together local travel providers, media, government officials and inspired travelers for a few magical hours. The event showcased options and responsibilities travelers have exploring the local as well as international.

Exhibitors included a mix of tour operators, artisans, educational institutions and airlines.

Some hotels and resorts were participating in a big way. They were Hotel Kollol, Hotel Fortune Garden, Pushpadum Resort, Pond Garden park, Blue Marine Resorts, The Peninsula Chitagong, etc.

Royal Holidays, Green Holidays Tours, Eastern SAARC Tourism and some other tour operators had a sizeable presence.

GMG Airlines, United Airlines and Druk Air offered the unique packages.

The Fair was sponsored by Banglalink and organized by Parjatan Bichitra, in association with GMG Airlines, premium partner was Tourism Developers Association of Bangladesh, both had been participating and carrying their promise of implausible travel experiences to the Bangladeshi tourists.

The Fair was supported by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation and ATAB. The media partners were The Daily Jugantar, Channel-I and The Daily New Age.

Different trade visitors were expected to mark their presence in the one-of-its kind tourism extravaganza.

The Fair represented the maximum number of locations, participants and visitors. It had also introduced an exclusive International Section to address the growing numbers of International participation.

The tourist sector of Bangladesh has achieved to meet the expectations and gain the trust of foreign and home guests. According to Mr. Alam Shah, one organizer, "The objective of the Fair is to bring together at one place the most important participant of the tourist industry, to present the diversity of the local and foreign tourist supply and to promote tourist potentials of Bangladesh".

Photos: Sharif

Concord Group opened water park at Foy’s Lake, Chitagong recently. Chairman, Vice Chairman of Concord Group, Managing Director, Deputy Managing diretor of Concord Group and high-up of the Group were remain present on the occasion . Among the invitees were Civil and military hang ups, media personalities and businessmen foreign and local guests and tourists.

Chirman of concord group hoped that this area will be tourist destination. This is the third venture of Entertainment park here in Chitagong. The parks combines three things together crystal clear water. lake and hills . The rides are wave ploo, Multi Slide, Doom Slide, Family Pool , and Dancing zone .

The rate for the park is tk.330.

Chairman of Concord Group, SM Kamaluddin innagurated Sea World- Concord Country's one of the magnificant water park in Chitagong at Foy's Lake recently by releasing Baloon.

This water park is a new addition in the entertainment hungry port City Chitagong and third entertainment Park by the Company itself.

The rock Icon Auib Bachu led the show by his high bit guitar where alrage number of youthful vibrant crowd thronged up for becoming a part of inauguration.

Among others Civil and Military High Officials, Media personalities, Businessmen and social elite were present on the occasion.

The park is a beautiful addition in the entertainment and touristim industry. Its beauty comprising its architectural superbness. It combines three things together crystal clear water, apprent sun light , peak of hills, and fascinating sky line of bay of Bengal.

And finally and nturally it located within the womb of lake and hill.

There are many rides like wave pool , , slide world, Family Pool , Tube Slide, Multi Slide , Water Fall, Doom Slide , Play Zone and Exiting dancing zone.

To get in the sea World -Concord is very easy. One way is from Foys Lake and another way is throw Dhaka Chitagong -Highway Besides BBC Colony . The Rate is 330 including all rides unlimited.

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Even before Mohammad Iqbal had gone to Japan in 1999 on a Monobusho Scholarship awarded by the government of that country, this gifted graduate of the Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University had been awarded the best young artist award on two occasions in 1994 and 1998 and had atracted the atention of people interested in the arts by being honoured with a prize in the National Art Exhibition. In Japan, he pursued single-mindedly the goal of making himself fit to perform at an even higher level. As a consequence, he was able to win less than five prizes for his artwork exhibited at exhibits at Kurami City and Bridgestone Art Museums.

"No longer are Iqbal's canvases dominated by figures as was the case before he had left for Japan. His experience of life in that country has led him to abandon them. The botom part of his canvas is often left vacant Motifs take up only a small part Because of destruction on a massive scale in the world these motifs have been reduced, have become slighter, vaguer, and almost invisible or made symbolic. It characteristic of Iqbal to always surpass himself," eminent art critic Syed Azizul Huq said these about Mohammad Iqbal at his solo painting exhibition titled 'Distant Skies' at Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts in the capital.

The exhibition was sponsored by Winners Creation Ltd and was inaugurated on September 4.

Masayuki Inoue, Ambassador of Japan, was present as chief guest at the inaugural session of the exhibition, while renowned artist Rafiqun Nabi and Syed Durjoy Rahman Joy, Managing Director of Winners Creation Ltd, were also present as special guests on the occasion.

There are 41 art works of Mohammad Iqbal in the exhibition.

Earlier, a press conference was held in this regard on September 3. Subir Chowdhury, Director of the Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts, Syed Durjoy Rahman Joy, Managing Director of Winners Creation Ltd, Sarwar Zahan of the gallery, artist himself, among others, were present in the press conference.

Syed Azizul Huq said, "To make Iqbal's canvas even richer through diligence and hard work is one consequence of his stay in Japan. It should be mentioned here that he has restricted himself to the medium of oil although he has worked with different sizes of canvases. To prepare the surface of his canvas he uses a layer of oil paints and then gives it completed before the paint can dry. To keep the total effect a balanced one the artist must be in total control and completely alert all through this process. In other words, Iqbal has perfected his own distinctive way of achieving texture, oil, water, gum and a kind of powder is missed together and then formed in to a paste which is then used completely new way. As a result, his paintings have a three-dimensional feeling. They acquire a completely new dimension. Iqbal is also very ingenious in his use of the brush in painting with oil to create lines that are delicate. It is by no means easy to create such fine lines. Exposure to Japanese calligraphy has enabled him to create such fine lines and use such deft strokes. All of these innovations testify to his dedication and ingenuity."

Iqbal had completed his MFA from Department of Drawing and Painting of Fine Arts Institute of Dhaka University in 1989. He completed his diploma in oil painting from Post Graduate Research Institute Aichi University of Education In Japan in 2001. He completed his Master of Education in Fine Arts in Oil Painting from Aichi University of Education of Japan in 2003. He obtained PhD in Fine Arts in Oil Painting from Hiroshima City University in Japan in 2006 and he also took part in research course on oil painting from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in Japan in 2007.

Mohammad Iqbal is now working with the issue on civilisation and environmental disaster. He said, "Environment is being polluted across the world. As a result, we cannot give anything to our next generation. This thing hurt me always. I always believe we should take something for our future generation. These issues always come in my works. I like children's expression especially eyes of human being atract me. I think anybody can realise by observing something to someone's eyes."

There is circular form of expression, which is found in the works of Iqbal. This circular form represents the expression of polluted nature of the world. He hopes one day people of the world will find peace. He always tries to express his thoughts by a process in his works.

But earlier, he passed his life as a devotee. Life of devotees of Japan atracted him so much. He got many things from their devotion and clam atention of prayers. Now his total philosophy is based on environmental issues. He wants to express this in his art works. So this exhibition will give a new Iqbal to the viewers.

The exhibition will end on September 18. Gallery remains open from 12:00 noon to 8:00pm everyday.

Farizaa Sabreen

Recently Agniveena, a sister concern of G-series, has released an exclusive audio album of Neela Nikki. which is produced by Aarshee, a highly potential multi-talent performer who resides in Uk currently,"

Her debut solo album 'The Depth of Blue' (Neelcr Gobhirota) comprises ten modern bangla tracks and all the credits for the tunes, lyrics and composition goes to her. As she commented, ''I've always thought of publishing my poems one day and giving tunes and melodies to some of those poems turned out to be a thrining and exciting experience". These ten tracks are titled as Adharey lukiye kaadey, Ekhono je mone porey, Eki swapno rater sheshey. Ekhaney akhash chhucy. Kothay pabo je tomay. Swapner pakhitao urey gelo sheshe. Nishsho ami bishsto majhey. Koster joto neel, Taray bhora akashtatey and Tomar kachhey ki jadu achhey.

The Depth of Blue (Neeler Gobhirota) was recorded within a very short span of time (only eight days) in Toronto, Canada, though the idea of the album had been lurking in her mind for years. Crcdit for recording and instrumental composition and direction goes to Mohammad Mahbubul Haque (sound engineer and former member of bank TRAP). For details contact: 82/2, Laboratory Road, 861 9097, 8613174, 01711812701, 01914489674, E-Mail: agniveenabd@yahoo.com

Neela Nikki and The Depth of Blue:

She had completed her Masters in science (Zoology/Fisheries) frtm1 Dhaka University, and also studied Fashion and Design with Art in England. A former science teacher by profession completely devoted to education, music and social work. Music has been an integral part of her life. She started, singing from the age of live with her mother Tahrima Rosie, who learnt music from Ustad Umar Farook. Her mother has inspired her to sing and'train her in the classical terrain such as 'Dhrupad', 'Kheyal', 'Thumri' and aifferent Ragas. Her major field is classical and Nazrul songs. She also received lessons from Ustad Sanjib Dey, Nilima Das, and Ahsan sir at Chhayanat Musical Institute in Dhaka. She also learnt playing classical & Spanish guitar from Niloy Das (son of Shudhin Das & Nilima Das) for three years.

She performed in many places in UK, appeared in several Radio and TV programs, and, received awards from Vectone (Bangia) TV Channel. She had been writing poems, lyrics and stories since she was seven. Apart from that, she also spends her time in drawing, sketching, painting, gardening and reading.

Regarding her debut album, Neela expressed her expectations saying that may be her songs will be adored here and in abroad alike.

Cultural Desk

Tonatuni, a cultural body, organised a special show titled 'Torai Bandha Ghorar Dim' in aid of the flood victims. It was held on the 24th ultimo at the Jatiya Natyashala Manch produced and planning by Mahbubur Rahman Joynal, music by Ahmad Imtiaz Bulbul, dance by Tamanna Rahman, puppet, costume and stage by Kiriti Ranjan Biswas.

Coordinator Mujibur Rahman Dilu gave running commentary of the whole programme.

Music Director Ahmad Imtiaz Bulbul remembered the legend film director Satyajit Roy, who was equally strong in music. He did not forget his wife for giving her inspiration to do the work. Dance Director Tamanna said that nine out of 37 rhymes were selected for staging. Narrations of the rhymes could easily take one in the world of imagination. She said, "I started the choreographic and dance work with 50 children. Their endless ambition and diligence assisted me to prepare a good production for presentation to the audiences. It took a long time to get every thing ready.

Mahbubur Rahman Joynal, Managing Director of Tonatuni, paid tributes to late Satyajit Roy for his great contribution in enriching the Bengali filmdom. In memory of him I decided to make a puppet programme 'Torai Bandha Ghorar Dim' based on the rhyme writen by him. Since he wrote the story, we took every care and worked tirelessly. It was really an adventure.