A charity concert titled "Echoes of Revolution" was organized by a platform named "Spirits of July" to support the families of those killed and injured in the student-led protests of July-August. The event's main attraction was the legendary South Asian singer Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. The Pakistani artist performed on Dhaka's stage without any remuneration. On Saturday (December 21), around 10 pm, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan took to the stage at the Army Stadium, where the audience warmly welcomed him. As soon as he stepped onto the stage, he addressed the crowd in Bangla, saying, "Assalamu Alaikum, Bangladesh, I love you." After exchanging greetings with the massive crowd at the Army Stadium, he began with the song "Tu Na Jaane Aas Paas Hai Khuda." He then performed his popular songs one after another. The stadium was packed with fans, who were mesmerized by his music. It seemed as though everyone was enchanted by his melodious tunes. Alongside Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, popular local bands like Artcell, Chirkutt, Aftermath, and Silsila performed at the concert. Additionally, rap artists Shezan and Hannan entertained the audience with their performances. It is worth mentioning that Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's popularity is global. He is the son of Ustad Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan and the nephew of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. As the grandson of the legendary Qawwali artist Fateh Ali Khan, he was connected to music from an early age. Initially, he sang devotional Sufi songs as a Muslim artist. Later, he also started singing for Bollywood films. His first Bengali song, "Tomari Naam Lekha," written by Bangladeshi lyricist Robiul Awal, earned him significant praise in Bangladesh.

Popular Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has arrived in Bangladesh to perform at the "Echoes of Revolution" concert organized by the Spirits of July platform. On Friday (December 20), the renowned subcontinental musician landed at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at midnight. Upon his arrival, a group of Dhaka University students greeted him with flowers. Later, he checked into a five-star hotel in the capital. The "Echoes of Revolution" concert will be held at Dhaka's Army Stadium on Saturday night (December 21). This event aims to support the injured and families of those who lost their lives during the July uprising. World-renowned musician Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan will perform some of his most popular songs free of charge. In addition to Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, popular local bands Artcell, Chirkutt, Aftermath, and Silsila will also perform at the concert. Rap artists Shezan and Hannan are scheduled to perform as well. Beyond music, the event will feature a variety of attractions, including a graffiti exhibition about the July Revolution, stage dramas, and an enchanting water zone. All proceeds from the concert will be donated to the "July Martyrs Memorial Foundation," a welfare organization supporting the families of the injured and deceased. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and his team are performing without compensation, and the organizers will also refrain from taking any profit from ticket sales. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has exempted all VAT and supplementary duties (on tickets and venue charges) associated with organizing the concert. In a special order signed by First Secretary (VAT Implementation) Mohammad Ariful Islam, it was stated that the concert, organized by "Spirits of July" and "Skytracker Limited," has been granted tax exemptions under the Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Act, 2012, Section 126(3). The exemption applies provided all conditions are met, ensuring transparency. To facilitate the concert at Dhaka's Army Stadium, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has issued special traffic instructions for the day. These will be effective from 2 pm to 11 pm. During this time, vehicles can use the expressway toll-free via the Airport, Kuril, and Banani ramps to avoid congestion. The DMP commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali issued a public notice advising the use of alternative roads near the Army Stadium. Vehicles travelling from Tongi-Uttara towards Gulshan, Banani, and Mohakhali are encouraged to use the alternative route from Staff Road Railgate to Navy Headquarters.  Additionally, vehicles heading from Uttara to Gulshan and Banani via the airport can use U-turns near the Radisson Hotel or under the Banani overpass to access the expressway. Traffic from ECB Circle to Banani can use the ramp in front of Kurmitola Hospital.  

15 films have now been shortlisted for the 2024 Oscar race for Best International Feature Film, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Tuesday. Among them is Germany, which has submitted Mohammad Rasoulof's latest film, "The Seed of the Sacred Fig." The work was inspired by the mass protests in Iran in 2022 that were sparked by the killing of a young woman, Mahsa Amini, by the so-called morality police. Rasoulof heard the demonstrations from his prison cell when he got the idea for a thriller exploring state violence, paranoia and censorship. "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" follows Iman, an investigator for Iran's Revolutionary Court who is loyal to the regime but has begun to question the arbitrary and summary nature of the death warrants he is asked to sign. At home, his wife and young daughters become caught up in the "Women, Life, Freedom" protests sparked by the death, in custody, of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Amini had been detained for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly and was reportedly beaten by the police. Fleeing Iran by foot After shooting the feature in secret — the Iranian regime had banned the director from filmmaking in 2017 — Rasoulof had to leave the production and flee the country by foot across the border. He had just been sentenced to eight years in prison and a whipping for criticizing the regime, including their aggressive response to the pro-democracy protests. After leaving Iran, Rasoulof was able to apply for asylum in Germany; he had lived in the country a few years earlier. His passport had been confiscated in Iran before his flight, but his information was already on file with the German authorities. The director chose Germany in part because "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" was being edited in Hamburg by Andrew Bird, who works with award-winning German-Turkish director Fatih Akin.  Still, Rasoulof had not been able to visit the country when his film "There is No Evil" won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2020. That film was about the death penalty in Iran, and he made it while waiting for another prison sentence to be confirmed. A dissident in exile   Rasoulof was awarded a special jury prize for "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" at the Cannes Film Festival in May not long after escaping Iran and completing the film abroad. The film also won the film industry's Fipresci prize, which was awarded during the festival. "It was quite clear for me that what mattered most now was to go on making films and telling my stories," Rasoulof said in Cannes. "I had more stories to tell, and nothing could stop me from telling them." Why an Iranian film representing Germany at the Oscars?   Munich-based German Films is a cinema marketing company that appoints the independent jury responsible for selecting the nation's Oscar entry. This year's jury chose "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" from among 13 films. The fact that "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" was produced by Hamburg-based Run Way Pictures, received funding from a northern German film board and has a German distributor made it eligible for selection.  The jury called Rasoulof's latest cinematic triumph an "outstanding work by one of the great directors of world cinema." "We are very happy to know that Rasoulof is safe in our country," continued the jury statement. "And we are delighted that he will be representing Germany at the Oscars in 2025." The director and his producers said in a statement that the selection "shows how powerful intercultural exchange can exist in a free and open society." In the past, the German jury has chosen local stories and productions. These include "The Tin Drum" (1979), by Volker Schlöndorff, "The Lives of Others" (2006), by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, and "All Quiet on the Western Front" (2022), by Edward Berger, all of which won the Academy Award for an international film. Of the 15 shortlisted films announced on December 17, five nominated finalists for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film will be announced on January 17, with the winners to be presented in March 2025.

On December 21, a concert titled "Echoes of Revolution" is set to take place at Dhaka's Army Stadium to support the families of martyrs and the injured from the July-August uprising. The event is being organized by the "Spirits of July" platform and will feature performances by renowned Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, a celebrated artist from Pakistan will perform at the concert without charging any fees. Additionally, the stadium's rental fee has been waived by the Army for this event. In another supportive measure, the elevated expressway toll will be waived on the day of the concert. Ticket sales for the concert have already started, with significant discounts offered to students. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the "July Shaheed Smrity Foundation", a welfare organization supporting the families of martyrs and injured individuals. It has been reported that on December 21, no toll will be collected from vehicles on the Dhaka Elevated Expressway. From 2 pm to midnight, vehicles can access the expressway toll-free through four entry points: Banani, Army Golf Club, Airport, and Kuril Bishwa Road. However, motorcycles will not be included in this toll-free benefit. To address traffic concerns and ease public movement, the Bangladesh Army has decided to open Jahangir Gate and Zia Colony Gate from 2 pm to 11 pm on the same day. During this period, these gates will only permit passage for ambulances, vehicles carrying patients, outbound travelers, and other emergency services. Notably, apart from Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, the "Echoes of Revolution" concert will feature performances by popular Bangladeshi bands like Artcell, Chirkutt, Aftermath, and artists from Silsila. Additionally, well-known rap artists Shezan and Hannan will also perform at the event.