Clockwise from top: Artist Rafiqun Nabi speaks at the opening of the festival.A visitor browses the photo exhibition at the Goethe Institut, Dhaka.Interactive painting drew art enthusiasts at the event.Photo: Shawkat Jamil

Goethe Institut-Bangladesh has organised a festival titled “Dhaka Safe and Sound”. The festival includes painting, installation and photography exhibitions; film screenings; live performances; theatre and workshops involving literature, architecture and science. The venues are Goethe Institut in Dhaka, Dhaka Art Centre and Shilpangan Art Gallery. Several well-known and promising artistes are participating at the festival.
The festival was jointly inaugurated by Mahfuz Anam, editor of The Daily Star and veteran artist Rafiqun Nabi on October 18 at Goethe Institut in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. The festival will run till the end of this month.
Mahfuz Anam said, “At present, the city's traffic situation has turned into an absolute mess. Overpopulation and unplanned urbanisation are constantly stressing city life, according to him. Anam criticised some plans of RAJUK. Lack of vision, awareness and trained staff as well as corruption are the main reasons behind the city's current situation.
“Children have no playgrounds. Schools have no space for recreation either. Children are detached from social and cultural events, and are occupied with computers and video games. Urban people are becoming increasingly alienated from each other,” he said. He emphasised on the role of media and collective efforts to regain the city's lost glory.
Rafiqun Nabi said, “I have been living in this city since childhood. We now live in a city where life is constantly under threat. I have been doing cartoons on the city since the mid '60s and I always try to highlight issues that affect urban life. The city has been gradually losing its charm. We should work jointly to make this city a better place.”
In recent times, Goethe Institut has organised a number of solo exhibitions and installation shows on varied environmental issues.