Showbiz’s much-discussed events

Today is the last day of 2024. After midnight the world will usher in another new year, 2025, ringing out the old one forever. This year won’t go down in history because the world of cultural arena saw numerous important incidents. Bangladesh was no exception. Like the rest of the world, Bangladesh’s cultural and entertainment scene saw a lot of exciting events throughout the year. Here are the some major local cultural events that defined 2024.

Artistes divided over July uprising    

The most talked-about event in showbiz this year is that the country’s artiste community has been divided into two groups around the student-led July uprising. Musicians Prince Mahmud, actors Mosharraf Karim, Siam Ahmed, Azmeri Haque Badhon, Zakia Bari Mamo, Rafiath Rashid Mithila  Nazia Haque Orsha, Sabila Nur, Tasnia Farin, Rukaiya Jahan Chamak, directors Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Amitabh Reza Chowdhury, Ashfaque Nipun, Mabrur Rashid Banna and many others took to the streets and raised their vocals for students throughout the Anti-Discrimination Students’ Movement.    

On the other hand, another group of artistes went to inspect the damage to Bangladesh Television (BTV) building with banners, festoons and placards. The group included former lawmaker and actor Ferdous Ahmed, Riaz Ahmed, actors Sujata, Aruna Biswas, Nipun Akter, Shomi Kaiser, Rokeya Prachy,Tanveen Sweety, Jyotika Jyoti, Sohana Saba, Sazu Khadem, director Mushfiqur Rahman Gulzar, SA Haque Alik, film producer Khorshed Alam Khasru and many others. They opened the much-discussed group ‘Alo Asbei’ and took a stand against the students and the public, siding with the previous government.

Launching of Bangladesh Film Certification Board

In response to persistent requests regarding the abolishment of the Bangladesh Film Censor Board from the film fraternity over the years, the government finally established the “Bangladesh Film Certification Board” in September in this year.

Rumour of Shakib Khan’s third marriage

Dhallywood superstar Shakib Khan suddenly came into the discussion this year about getting married again. It is known that his family is looking for a bride for his wedding. At the same time, Apu Biswas and Bubly are banned from entering Shakib’s house. In this context, it was learned in April that Shakib Khan’s two ex-wives often clashed with each other. Shakib expressed his annoyance at such incidents between the two at various times. His family members were also annoyed. There were also reports that the two heroines were banned from entering Shakib’s house because they talked about various issues including their children.

Nipun’s defeat to Dipjol in BFAA election

After serving the general secretary of Bangladesh Film Artistes’ Association for two years Nipun Akter defeated to Monowar Hossain Dipjol in the same post in 2024-2026 term. Nipun Akhter filed a case a week after losing to actor Monowar Hossain Dipjol in the middle of this year by using the influence of Sheikh Selim, a close aide of Sheikh Hasina. In the wake of this, ordinary artistes held a broom procession against Nipun at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) at that time.   

RAJUK’s plot to Arifin Shuvoo  

The interim government has taken the initiative to cancel plots allocated under the reserved quota at various times after 5 August. In the meantime, a decision has been made to cancel the plot allocated under the reserved quota by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) to actor Arifin Shuvoo, who came to the fore with the movie “Mujib: The Nation”. The matter has also been discussed and criticised. Actor and presenter Shahriar Nazim Joy has been criticised for writing a letter to Sheikh Hasina calling her mother and asking for a plot.   

Play halted midway fearing attack at Shilpakala Academy  

The organisers were forced to stop the staging of Desh Natak’s popular production “Nityapuran”   midway in the face of protests by a group of people at the National Theatre Hall of Shilplakala Academy. This incident sparked criticism.

Apart from this, the events discussed including changing the name of the victory festival and the academy’s hall, and attacks on theatre workers.  

Sadia Ayman’s three controversial incidents  

Popular TV actor Sadia Ayman has generated a lot of criticism this year by committing three controversial incidents. The artiste was criticised for her love affair, in addition to getting into a fight with a journalist. She also became a netizen’s eyeball when she went live to promote one of her web films and caused confusion. She later apologised.