A TESTAMENT OF YOUNG TALENT
A photo-book and audio CD for Standard Chartered-The Daily Star Celebrating Life programme was launched in The Westin hotel in the capital yesterday. Celebrating Life, a contest which focuses on theme-based film, photography and lyrics is a joint initiative by The Daily Star and Standard Chartered Bank for the last nine years. It has now become a crucial platform for young and aspiring photographers, lyricists and filmmakers throughout the country. This year's theme is “Youth in Change”, engaging students in university campuses across the country to submit their works. The initiative offers lucrative prize money in all three categories, and over a dozen more will receive Honorable Mention awards along with crests and certificates.
The programme was hosted by Rafi Hossain (editor of Showbiz magazine at The Daily Star and Festival Director of Celebrating Life), and Bitopi Das Chowdhury (Head of Corporate Affairs at Standard Chartered Bank). Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu attended the event as chief guest, joined by Editor of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Abrar Anwar and Editor of The Daily Star's Arts and Entertainment page Sadya Afreen Mallick. Renowned photographer Anwar Hossain, lyricists Rafiquzzaman and Munshi Wadud, singers Fahmida Nabi and Konal and popular actor Swagata also attended, among others. The speakers at the ceremony emphasised on the cultural importance of the competition, and the values it seeks to promote and instill among the youth. “Bangladesh is so rich and fertile, that wherever a seed drops, there shall be harvest, and this event is the seed that witnesses the emergence of so many rising talents in the country,” said Sadya Afreen Mallick.
Mahfuz Anam stressed on the need to recognise songwriters and promote the art of composing lyrics, as well as photography and film-making. “Every year we select the best photos borne from the competition and over two years, we compiled them and published as a photo-book. The objective of the book is to help citizens fall in love with their country and teach them their heritage, as well as inspire them to take part in the challenge in subsequent years.”
Ten songs from the lyrics competition are selected for the audio CD, featuring winning lyrics sung by artistes.
Minister of Information Hasanul Haq Inu greatly appreciated the efforts of the two organisations and remarked how this initiative not only promotes love of one's country, but also enables them to hold a vision for the nation's future and create positive revolutions. “The photo book shall be made part of our national archive,” he said, “and the government shall make efforts to distribute and make them widely accessible to the public in hopes of spreading this awareness.”
Standard Chartered Bank CEO Abrar Anwar expressed how this platform allows aspiring participants to not only showcase their talents, but it also provides them useful exposure for future endeavors. “Every picture tells us a story of our country, and under the theme presented each year, they form a collective narrative, voiced by many,” he said.
The ceremony concluded with Chirkutt presenting songs of the audio CD which featured various singers. “The songs have been jointly sung by everyone from the band as well as the other recording artistes,” said Shumi, lead vocalist from Chirkutt. “We tried our best to fulfill the magnanimous responsibility put forward to us.”
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