Rtv, the country's leading private satellite television channel, has entered into 14 years on Wednesday. To mark the day, the channel organised a daylong colourful programme at its Bengal Multimedia Studio at Tejgaon in the city. On this occasion, Rtv Managing Director Humayun Kabir Bablu, Chief Executive Officer Syed Ashik Rahman, Prime Minister’s Media Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Dr. Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia were present. Moreover, Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Ashraful Alam Khokon, cultural personalities Syed Hasan Imam, Laila Hasan, Dr. Enamul Haque, ATN Bangla Chairman Mahfuzur Rahman, poet Asad Chowdhury, dramatists Ataur Rahman, Keramat Moula, Khairul Alam Sabuj, popular actors, directors Mir Sabbir, Zahid Hasan, Rounak Hasan, Shanta Islam, playwright Vrindaban Das, actress Shahnaz Khushi, singers  Mehrin, Mala, Yusuf, Samrat, directors Sagar Jahan, Ejaz Munna and other noted personalities of political, social, cultural arenas were present along with advertisers and well-wishers. In his speech, the Chief Executive Officer of Rtv Syed Ashik Rahman, said, “Bengal Media Corporation Limited (Rtv) has entered into14 years. On this occasion, I wish all the best to all of you. The absence of television channel in our daily lives cannot be imagined. Television makes our lives meaningful providing entertainment, education and knowledge. And for this, the responsibilities of television have increased greatly. Rtv is doing that job objectively. Like the past years, this year, Rtv has also introduced new programs, objective news and the most public-interested reports as per the needs of the audience. Rtv is always trying to make itself suitable for all Bengali-speaking people irrespective of age, cast and professions.” MHK

‘Janmabhumi’, (The Birthland), a featured film on Rohingyas directed by Proshoon Rahmaan, was released on Friday at Star Cineplex in Bashundhara City in the capital. From now on, the film will be screened at 1:10pm, 5pm and 7:30pm from Friday to Thursday, according to the sources at the Star Cineplex. Earlier, the teaser of the film was released online on December 5. ‘Janmabhumi’, a production of Bengal Multimedia Limited, was produced by RTV Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Syed Ashik Rahman. A good number of actors, actresses, including Rawnak Hasan, Saira Aktar Jahan, Sangeeta Chowdhury, Aungkon Chakma, Jainal Jack, Pamela Kechter, Nasir Uddin, performed in different roles of the movie. Director Proshoon Rahmaan said the story of the ‘Janmabhumi’ has been made based on lives of Rohingya refugees who fled from Rakhine State of Myanmar to Kutupalong camp of Cox's Bazar district. When the Myanmar government launched a violent military crackdown on Rohingyas in August of 2017, around 11 lakh Rohingyas left their birthland and entered Bangladesh to save lives. He said more than 65,000 of them were pregnant and many of them were raped by the Myanmar Army. The government of Bangladesh has made a refugee camp in Kutupalong for their shelter. They now have only one dream and it is to return to their birthland. Film Producer Syed Ashiq Rahman said RTV is continuously broadcasting news, reports and documentaries on persecuted Rohingyas. “We believe that if the movie is screened worldwide, it will create public opinion in favour of the Rohingyas. MHK

Legendary film director Amjad Hossain is no more. He breathed his last at around 3 pm on Friday. Amjad Hossain was undergoing treatment at Bamrungrad Hospital in Bangkok of Thailand. His elder son Sajjad Hossain Dodul confirmed the news of death to Rtv online. Amjad Hossain died at the age of 76 years. Amjad Hossain had a brain stroke on November 18. He was under life support at a hospital in Dhaka. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina provided 42 lakh taka for his better treatment. Later he was taken to Bangkok through an air ambulance on November 27. He for the first time acted in the film ‘Tomar Amar’ and then ‘Harano Din’. Amjad Hossain took himself into a unique height as a director. To the spectators he presented many well reputed films like- ‘Ballobandhu’, ‘Pita Putra’, ‘Ei Niye Prithibi’, ‘Banglar Mukh’, ‘Nayanmoni’, ‘Golapi Ekhon Traine’, ‘Sundari’, ‘Kasai’, ‘Jonmo Theke Jolchhi’, ‘Dui Paisar Alta’, ‘Sokhinar Juddho’, ‘Bhaat De’, ‘Hiramoti’, ‘Praner Manush’, ‘Sundari Badhu’, ‘Kal Sokale’, ‘Golapi Ekhon Dhakay’, ‘Golapi Ekhon Bilete’ and others. The shadow of mourning is remaining in the film industry following the death of this reputed director-actor. AH     

Full name Saira Akter Jahan. Popularly known as Saira in the showbiz arena. She stepped into the media through modeling in 2014. She was seen in music videos and some dramas. But the target of this model-actress was to act in film. From her heart she wanted to act in films. Saira enjoyed different type films from across the world including Bangladesh. She wished to act in a film based on story. But the glamour girl never thought that her dream would be real so hurriedly. Prasoon Rahman, the film maker of ‘Sutopar Thikana’ was looking for a heroine for his new film. The director wanted for a less renowned one for his film ‘Janmabhumi-The Birth Land’. To make the character realistic to the audience the director thought so. One day over mobile phone he told Saira that he is looking for a heroine for his new film. The character is about a pregnant woman who came to Bangladesh from Myanmar. Saira, much discussed for her music video ‘Chhip Nouko’ agreed to work for the film after hearing the story of ‘Janmabhumi-The Birth Land’ from the director. She said that she is a fan of Prasoon Rahman’s writings. She also enjoyed the film ‘Sutopar Thikana’ made by the director. Considering all she did not hesitate to take the decision. Prasoon Rahman said, Saira hails from Chattogram. There is little similarity between the languages of Chattogram with the language of Myanmar. I thought it would be easy for her (Saira). Burt Saira said, though I am an inhabitant of Chattogram but nobody talk to me over that language. For that I am not efficient in the language. However, Prasoon vai had casted me giving importance to that matter (laugh). She also said, ‘Janmabhumi’ film is based on an international issue. So it was like a dream to take the opportunity of central role there. One thing influenced me that if I would perform my acting with my best then it would create imagination among the refugees after release of the film. It is the significance of my life. Career’s first film with an important issue, so how much satisfied you are about your acting? In reply Saira said, I like realistic story and character. Every person has a story in his or her life. As a result there was a challenge at one end, again after acting it seemed that I had done something. Popular actor Rawnak Hasan played his role against the character of Saira in ‘Janmabhumi’. About the co-artist she said, Rawnak vai is a good actor that I have understood while working. He is a very cooperative person. There is much more to learn from him. We all  worked like a family during our shooting. To the audience Saira said, to uphold a story to you we have acted in Rohingya camps, hills, under the sun and rain. It is being showed in the Star Cineplex from Friday. I hope you all will watch the film after going to the hall. Our hard work will succeed if you watch the film. The film ‘Janmabhumi’ produced by Bengal Multimedia is being showed in the Star Cineplex in the capital from Friday (December 14). Apart from Saira and Rawnak the film is also acted by Sangeeta Chowdhury, Angkan Chakma, Joynal Jack, Pamela Ketcher, Nasir Uddin and others. Translated By Aleem Al Hasan                   

Internationally acclaimed film maker Tareque Masud is being honoured with Google Doodle all over the world, marking his 62nd birth anniversary. Google Doodle depicts that an image of a hand is holding a clay model of a bird which was Tareque’s first feature and it won the International Critics’ award at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. Tareque Masud was born in Nurpur Village of Faridpur District in Bangladesh on December 6 in 1956. Marking the birthday, Google wrote in its Doodle “The first Bangladeshi director to participate in the Oscars or to be honored at Cannes, Tareque Masud was a driving force within his country’s independent film movement.” A Google Doodle is a special, temporary alteration of the logo on Google's homepages that commemorates holidays, events, achievements, and people. Tareque’s wife, Catherine Masud, expressed her gratitude to Google for the Doodle. She said, “It is a great honor to have Tareque Masud’s legacy recognized by Google. Tareque was a visionary and a pioneer of Bangladeshi cinema, an inspiring figure for young people in his own country and beyond. Although he made films for the people of Bangladesh, his work also spoke to the world through universal themes of tolerance, compassion, and justice.” Tareque’s first films were documentaries that told the story of his homeland, starting with 1989’s Adam Surat (Inner Strength) about the Bangladeshi painter Sheikh Mohammed Sultan. His classic 1995 feature-length documentary Muktir Gaan (Song of Freedom) about the independence movement in Bangladesh attracted huge audiences. He also made many other films on the war, including Muktir Kotha (1999) (Words of Freedom), Narir Kotha (Women and War) (2000) and Naroshundor (The Barbershop) (2009). Following his childhood experience in the Madrassa, he completed his feature film The Clay Bird (2002). The film that won the Critics' Prize (FIPRESCI Prize) at the Cannes Film Festival (2002) was released in many countries around the world. A founding member of the Short Film Forum, an important platform for independent film, Tareque Masud also organized Bangladesh's first International Short and Documentary Film Festival, which continues to this day. To further honor his legacy, the Tareq Masud Memorial Trust launched the Tareque Masud Short Film Competition, encouraging a new generation of Bengali filmmakers to follow in his footsteps. On 13 August 2011, Tareque and Mishuk along with three others were killed in a road accident on Dhaka-Aricha highway in Ghior Upazila of Manikganj. On the occasion of his birth anniversary, Kotha Prakash, in partnership with the Tareque Masud Memorial Trust, is also launching a new book on Tareque Masud, titled Cholochitra Kotha, in December. An inspiring collection of Masud's lectures and interviews, through which Masud's ideas about the role of cinema in society are elaborated were depicted in the book. Earlier, filmmakers Satyajit Ray, Akira Kurosawa, Sergei Eisenstein, Raj Kapoor, and Chantal Ackerman were honoured with a Google Doodle. MHK