The New Nation - Internet Edition

Cultural Desk

On Wednesday, October 17 in a global call to demand world leaders do more to end poverty and inequality; commemorating with the UN Day for the Eradication of Poverty, thousands of events took place for 24 hours from yesterday, 16th October in 126 countries around the world. Civil society and anti-poverty organizations here in Dhaka held a massive congregation marking the `People Stand Up Against Poverty' program at city mayor's office at Nagar Bhaban, Gulistan, Dhaka. The theme for this year International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is 'Stand Up and Speak out against Poverty and Inequality'. People's Forum on MDGs (PFM), a united organization of civil society to review the progress of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), has taken up different programs including raising public opinion.

An open air musical event was organized at the Robindra Sharobar Mancha, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, today, as a part of the campaign `Stand Up and Speak out against Poverty and Inequality', which a part of those programs, which has successfully drawn a huge crowd to witness and by the end of the day, to express their solidarity with the campaign, including celebrities and artistes gathering at the Robindra Sharobar Mancha. The gathering, open for all has started at 1:30 p.m. by the performances of a group of artiste from leading production house Ektaar, followed by live performance of eminent baul and folk singer Shahajahan Munshi. The leading bands of the country along with popular artistes and folk singers have rendered music at the program. The bands included Artcell, Aurthohin, Bangla, Black, Warefaze, Nemesis, Nash-T, and Dhaka of Maqsoodul Haque. The artistes include Faqir Alamgir, Aurnob along with folk singers like Rab Faqir as well. Besides, celebrities from a wide range of performing art and cultural sector, and eminent cultural personalities of the country were present there to express unity with the anti-poverty campaign. Referring on celebration of the day, Ms. Tasneem Athar, deputy director, Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE) and the focal point of PFM Bangladesh, said, 'We want people of all walks raise their voice against poverty and demand for implementation of UN Millennium Declarations.'

Bangladesh has been one of the signatories of UN declared Millennium Development Goals. Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP), an international coalition of non-government organizations, has prepared for an amazing mass mobilization on 17th October around the world, aspiring to achieve the biggest ever mobilization against poverty and inequality in more than hundreds of countries including Bangladesh.

Staff Reporter

The film of Aha! produced by Impress Telefim and directed by Enamul Karim Nirjhar is a milestone in the country's cine-world. It can also be called a full-fledged literature so far the story and the making are concerned. The story is centered round an old building in the old part of the Dhaka City. There lived just four persons, say, father, daughter, grandson and a faithful servant. Father, who was about 60 years old, wanted to demolish the old building and had a new one of modern technology by a developer but his widow daughter and the servant opposed the idea because they were in favour of protecting it. They argued that the building was the sign of the old archeological development and the construction skills.

The maternal aunt of the daughter of the family joined them but her cousin brother, who is a software engineer, remained undecided. In the society, there are many educated youths who do not show interests in other's matters in order to avert any future complication. The long time servant of the family was more emotional. He even didf not allow a group of BUET students who wanted to study the building with the historical background.

The guardian of the family understood the inner mind of her daughter, yet signed an agreement with the developer. Out of 35 apartments to be constructed, he would be given 10 that he and his could lead a life free of anxiety.

Meanwhile, a Platonic love developed between the widow daughter under 25 and a 50 year old neighbour. The girl was at first annoyed with the neighbour but later found one kind of satisfaction in giving her company to visit historical places like the Lalbagh Fort and in telephonic conversation. In truth, she just wanted to free herself from the captivity of seclusion. But her father and the servant did not like it and when all their efforts to stop failed, the guardian proposed to the servant to kill the old neighbour.

There are few more characters in the story. The old neighbour had a writer friend of fishy character. The closeness ended when the neighbour flanked by the young girl visited him on way to the residence from the Lalbagh Fort. The developer had to take the support of a local cadre to counter the unwanted intrusion into his work.

Every actor played his/her character with full earnest and there was no dearth at all. The storywriter avoided useless dialogues and conversation. There is no dance, no fighting scene, no comic in the movie. Photography was excellent and so was the direction. The audiences of understanding will visit the cinema halls at least more than once.

Tarique Anam Khan, Humayun Faridi, Fazlur Rahman Babu, Ferdous, Sathi Yasmin, Progya Laboni, Shahidul Islam Sachchu, Khaled Khan and Ghazi Rakayet were cast in the movie.

Cultural Desk

Leading audio production house G-Series and it's sister concern Agniveena released four album which are available in all major audio shops and markets throughout the country. Among these four albums 'Dhum Ta Na' by nMn and 'kolponar Baire' by band Stoic Bliss under the bannar of G-Series and Hasan Shihabi's solo album 'Doyamoy' are mixed album 'Ochena Bhalobasha' under the banner of Agniveena are released.

There are ten tracks in nMn's album 'Dhum Ta Na', featuring Tausif, Rajib, Tomal and Nopel in four tracks, and except track 10 titled as 'Coming Soon' rest of the tracks are presented by nMn. All songs are written, tuned and composed by nMn. And band Stoic Bliss presents album designed and formatted according to the recent music trend of hip-hop rapping, and fusion based works titled as Kolponar Baire. There are a total of 13 tracks in the album including one intro part. The songs are presented by Kazi and AcID, featuring, Mana and Koel in track 'Shapur' and 'Sample This'.

Hasan Shihabi's solo album 'Doyamoy' under the banner of Agniveena, is a presentation of Modern Quawali, which consists 10 tracks written by mystic writer Shiraj. The songs are tuned and composed by Hasan Shihabi himself. And mixed album 'Ochena Bhalobasha' presents songs by Bappa Majumdar, Shakila Jafar, S I Tutul, Fahmida Nabi, Toni and Tipu. There are 10 tracks in this album and the lyrics and presentations are warm and likable.