Renowned musician and social activist Farzana Wahid Shayan, known for her bold stance on gender inequality and oppression, has once again raised her voice in response to the alarming rise of gender-based violence in Bangladesh. In recent weeks, a wave of brutal incidents, including the rape of eight-year-old Asiya by a relative, has sent shockwaves throughout the nation, prompting widespread outrage and calls for justice.

A few days ago, director Sanjoy Somadder announced his new film “Insaaf”, which stars Mosharraf Karim, Sariful Razz, and Tasnia Farin in pivotal roles. In an exciting development, renowned singer Mila Islam has lent her voice to a party song in the film, marking her return to playback singing after a seven-year hiatus.

Parsha Mahjabeen Purnee holds two very distinct identities among her audiences, one more intriguing than the other—she is a musician and now an actor with her (groundbreaking) debut in Jahid Preetom’s “Ghumpori”. A third-year university student who inspired millions through her song, “Cholo Bhule Jai” during the July Movement gets candid with The Daily Star about her journey, new-found fame and future aspirations.

Ferdous Wahid also remarked, “Azam Khan was not just a celebrated singer; he was a valiant Freedom Fighter who made a significant contribution to the country. I sincerely thank the authorities for recognising him.”

The interim government has nominated eight distinguished individuals for the 2025 Independence Award, recognising their outstanding contributions at the national level. Among the honourees is the King of Pop, Azam Khan, whose nomination has sparked widespread reactions on social media. A high-level government source confirmed the news today, Thursday.

Anjan Dutt is returning to where it all began—the theatre. After over four decades in cinema, the "Dutta Vs Dutta" star has announced his final stage appearance. His last play, "Aro Ekta Lear", premiered to praise, and is set to return on March 9 again at Kolkata's Gyan Manch. Advance tickets are already available for those eager to witness this final performance.

Authorities have apprehended two individuals in connection with a cybercrime case involving the unauthorised acquisition of over 900 concert tickets, most of which were for Taylor Swift’s highly sought-after “Eras Tour”.

Popular music composer Prince Mahmud has opened up about the issue. On Monday, March 3, Prince Mahmud wrote on Facebook, “Mostofa Sarwar Farooki is fine as an adviser. At least he is not being childish. He is sensitive and knows what to say and do in different situations. The situation demands someone like him.”

Bangladeshi rock band Ashes is set to release their new album, "Manusher Jonno," with all proceeds going to humanitarian aid. The band will forgo fees and royalties, donating the entire amount to hospital funds for cancer, kidney disease, paralysis, and eye treatment patients. The 10-song album is slated for release later this year.

Singer Charli XCX, whose album "Brat" inspired a cultural phenomenon last summer, was the big winner at the BRIT Awards, Britain's pop music honours, in London yesterday, picking up five prizes.

Renowned Bangladeshi musician Pritom Hasan is set to take his electrifying performances overseas with his much-anticipated “USA Tour 2025”. Organised by Deshi Music & Entertainment, the tour will see the versatile artiste perform across multiple cities, including Washington, D C, New York, Boston, San Jose, Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Miami, New Jersey, and Michigan.

Pop star Katy Perry is set to journey into space on an upcoming all-female mission aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket.

The rising star will be starring in four films this year—two Bangladeshi projects, including one directed by Tanvir Hossain Probal, and two Indian films, one from Tamil Nadu and another from Kolkata. “I have a significant fanbase in Kolkata, and that’s how I was approached for these projects,” he shared.

After months of uncertainty, concert enthusiasts finally have a reason to rejoice. Several concerts had been postponed in recent months due to security concerns. However, the wait is over, as two major concerts are set to take place today at separate venues in the capital, featuring an exciting lineup of musicians.

Arijit Singh, the renowned Indian playback singer, recently shared Bangladeshi singer Angel Noor’s song “Abar Dekha Hobe” on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, captioning it with high praise, “What a song.” 

The closing ceremony on Tuesday night was marked by an energetic staging of Kazi Nazrul Islam’s "Swami-Strir Jhogra", a lively Leto drama performed by the theatre group Bohor Natya Nritya Dal. The production, brought to life by Banshari, left a lasting impression on the audience. After the play, singers such as Bijon Mistry, Priyanka Bhattacharya, and Mridula Samaddar graced the stage with soulful renditions of Nazrul’s iconic songs.

Notable Indian artistes participating in this event include Shreeradha Bandyopadhyay, Manomay Bhattacharya, Pandit Tushar Dutta, Brajeswar Mukherjee, and Payel Kar. Among the distinguished Bangladeshi artistes lending their voices to this initiative are Yakub Ali Khan, Khairul Anam Shakil, Ferdous Ara, Nashid Kamal, and Yasmin Mushtari.

A group of Bangladeshi performers traveled to Paris to participate in the event. Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor of the caretaker government, was invited as the chief guest for the inaugural ceremony, delivering his speech virtually. On February 21, at the main event, cultural advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki was present and shared his reflections on the Bangladeshi artists' performances on the prestigious UNESCO stage.

Today marks the death anniversary of the eminent lyricist Kausar Ahmed Chaudhury. Notably, a music video of the song written by him will be released today in remembrance of the late artiste. Titled “Shorone Ritwik”, the song was written as a tribute to Ritwik Ghatak, one of the most prolific filmmakers in South Asia. The song has been voiced by Nafis Kamal, composed by Syed Kallol, and arranged by Tushar Rahman.

Bound by music and driven by passion, Rubayat Rehman and Ruslan Rehman have found not just melodies but a shared destiny.