The New Nation - Internet Edition

Event: DU cultural team honoured band singer Maksud

Entertainment Report

On observance of World Music Day a two-week long programmes (June 21 to July 2) was held at Teachers-Students Auditorium (TSC) of Dhaka University (DU).

Dhaka University Cultural Team honoured eminent band artiste and former student of the Department of English of DU Maksudul Haque on July 2, closing day of the programmes, for his contribution in music.

Charley Causeret, French Ambassador, was present as chief guest, while Alamgir Hossain, Director of TSC, Dr Mostafizur Rahman, Professor of Soil Science Department of DU, among others, were present on occasion.

After taking reception, Maksud along with members of his band Dhaka performed.

Cultural team of Dhaka University also performed at the function. The programme was organised by TSC of Dhaka University in association with Alliance Franchaise.

TV Watch: Mega serial Swapnamongal on ATN Bangla tonight

Entertainment Desk

The 32nd episode of mega serial Swapnamongal will be aired on ATN Bangla at 8:00pm today.

The story of the drama was written by Saiful Bari and Nasir Ahmed made the script. Kamal Khan gave direction of the serial.

Zahid Hasan, Fazlur Rahman Babu, Rumana, Shams Sumon, Sajal, Prova, Nisho, Saberi Alam, Zahid Hossain Shovon, Nushrat Yasmin Tisha, Mishti, Rahi, Russell O'Neel, Tushar Mahmud, Daud Rony, Mahmud Sajjad, Khaleda Akhter Kalpana, maong others, performed in different roles in the serial.

Story of Swapnamongal:

Our society is moving with two opposite socio-economic realities. Even in cultural field this movement is clearly identified.

In one hand, a higher class of people who are passing days without any moral value and they are following the western culture, which is not appropriate to our real life.

Young generation is facing trouble with this culture. But we have our own culture.

With the realities between these two cultural lives the story of the mega serial Swapnamongal continues.

FM News: BBC Bangla extends FM broadcasts to 6 cities

Entertainment Desk

BBC Bangla has arranged a special three-day series of programmes in Chittagong city starting from Sunday, to mark the launch of FM broadcasts in six cities beyond the capital, BBC Bangla said Saturday.

Listeners can tune in to the special series, broadcast live from Chittagong, on 105.4 FM each day at four different time-slots.

The series includes a discussion programme, titled 'Chittagong: your city, your inquiries', where the invited panel members will reply to viewers' queries about present and future issues concerning the port city.

The programme, directed by BBC Bangla Editor Sabir Mustafa, will be broadcasted at 8:00pm Sunday. Channel i will also telecast the programme at 8:00pm Monday.

The extension of FM broadcasting is an ambitious move to offer better programming services to radio audiences, Sabir Mustafa said.

The special Chittagong series will not only remind the audience to tune in to 105.4 FM, but will also strengthen the broadcaster's relationship with the people of the port city, he added.

Other programmes in the Chittagong series comprise special reports on the commercial city, interviews of prominent personalities, a live phone-in programme, and a report on Chittagong society and culture.

One can also access the BBC Bangla programmes in audio at www.bbcbengali.com.

The new FM frequencies in Bangladesh are: 101.2 FM in Comilla, 102 FM in Khulna, 105.4 FM in Chittagong, 105 FM in Rajshahi, 105.4 FM in Rangpur and 105 FM in Sylhet.

News Release: Literature function of Gangchil held

Entertainment Desk

Monthly literature session and general meeting of Gangchil Sahitya Sangskriti Parishad was held at Coffee House of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy recently, says a press release.

Dhaka district unit of the Parishad organised the meeting.

Central President of Gangchil Sahitya Sangskriti Parishad, novelist and film maker Khan Akhter Hossain presided over the meeting, while poet AFM Abdur Rashid, poet M Ali Akbar Haider, poet Ashraf Haider, columnist Ruhul Amin, central General Secretary of the Parishad Wahiduzzamn Sohag, poet Monwar Hossain Joni, among others, spoke at the function.

After literature session and discussion executive committee the Dhaka branch (2008-09) was formed. Members of the committee are the following:

President: AFM Abdur Rashid, Vice President: Mohammad Imdadul Haque, Ratul Krishna Halder, Sheikh Md Abdullah, M Akbar Ali Haider and Md Mamun Alim, General Secretary: Sardar Ruhul Amin, Finance and Press Secretary: Ashraf Haider, Publication Secretary: Fatima Nur, Cultural Secretary: Khondaker Poppy Zaman, Press Secretary: Wahiduzzaman Nur, Organising Secretary: Monwar Hossain Joni, Members: Aiyub Hossain and Chancal Shahriar.

According to the decision of the committee Gangchil National Writers Conference'09 will be held on February 13, 2009.

Hollywood: Paparazzi feel the heat in California

Los Angeles, Agencies

For years Hollywood's paparazzi have hounded celebrities, but now - with help from local politicians, a lawyer in the Monica Lewinsky case, and even Malibu surfers - they are the ones feeling the heat.

In Los Angeles and the nearby beachside enclave of Malibu, city leaders want to slap restrictions on the paparazzi citing safety concerns. But the paps, along with legal experts, say they are protected by their right to free speech under the US Constitution.

"The paparazzo is just as much covered by the First Amendment as you or I, or any Joe Schmo up the street," said Lucy Dalglish, executive director of the Virginia-based Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

"I don't think under any First Amendment law you can single out a paparazzi photographer," she said.

Still, many people are trying.

Numerous Hollywood celebrities, ranging from Mel Gibson to Britney Spears, have homes in posh Malibu and as a result, it has become a magnet for photographers looking for stars. In late June, several Malibu surfers swarmed some paparazzi who had gathered at a beach to get shots of "Fool's Gold" actor Matthew McConaughey, 38, as he surfed.

A fight ensued, was captured on video and posted online showing the shirtless surfers - some apparently holding beer bottles - battling with the photographers. "No one who lives here wants you here," one surfer yells.

Music: Winehouse sings in Spain, glass of wine in hand

AP, Spain

Soul diva Amy Winehouse sipped from a glass of red wine and looked a bit unsteady on her feet, as she appeared in front of a large audience at the Rock in Rio music festival southeast of Madrid on Friday.

Then, as tens of thousands cheered, she threw off a pair of high stiletto heels in favour of white moccasins, donned a white electric guitar and settled into an intense rendition of some of her best known songs, including 'Rehab.' Winehouse delivered a strong vocal performance accompanied by her octet plus two male backing vocalists.

There was no hint of the controversy that saw the Grammy-winning singer scuffle with a fan at the Glastonbury festival in Britain and show up an hour late looking the worse for wear last May in Portugal. The singer won five Grammy Awards, including best record, best song and best new artist, in early February, but her musical success has been overshadowed by her tumultuous private life and public struggles with drugs and alcohol. Last month, her father said she developed emphysema from smoking cigarettes and crack cocaine, although her spokeswoman has said Winehouse only has pre-emphysema symptoms. Once finished at Rock in Rio, she did not stay for an encore and left the outdoor concert venue by helicopter.

Winehouse's manager, Michael Jobson, told national broadcaster RTVE that the singer had looked forward to singing in Madrid after appearances in Portugal and Hyde Park, London. English band Jamiroquai followed Winehouse on stage, with Colombian pop singer Shakira topping the bill. The Police, Bob Dylan, Lenny Kravitz, Alejandro Sanz and Franz Ferdinand were all due to perform over the weekend. Around 350,000 people were expected to have enjoyed music at the newly inaugurated concert site by the end of the festival, said the organisers.