Close Up 1 in Barisal

The Barisal regional round of the ongoing countrywide primary audition and selection of musical talent hunt “Close Up 1-2012” started at Barisal Club Auditorium on Tuesday.
Like its previous 8 audition rounds in Dhaka, Chittagong, Comilla, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Rangpur, Rajshahi and Kushtia, the Barisal round of the talent hunt also saw a huge turnout.
A total of 6 contestants -- one male and five females -- got the 'Yes' cards on the first day of the two-day audition and selection round. This enables them to compete in the second phase of the contest -- to be held in Dhaka.
The 'Yes' card recipients on the first day are: Nivedita Mandal, Ankhi Dey, Tanzira Ahmed Ivy, Shreyoshi Annotama, Sathi Nath and Sagor Roy. The selected contestants were chosen from nearly 2,500 registered aspiring singers (aged 16-30) from the 8 districts of Barisal, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Patuakhali, Barguna and Bhola of Barisal division and Madaripur, Shariatpur of Dhaka division.
The Barisal round was judged by Anup Bhattacharya, Saba Tani, Shujeyo Shyam, Elita Karim, Muhammad Shahnewaj, Jalal Ahmed, Labu Rahman and Tanim.
The Barisal round ended on Wednesday. The Khulna round of the contest starts today.
The preliminary rounds for expatriate Bangladeshis will be held for the first time in the USA, UK, UAE, Canada and Australia.
Organised by Unilever Bangladesh Ltd, the title winner will receive Tk 10 lakh and a brand new car while first and second runners up will be given Tk 5 and 3 lakh respectively.
TV Channel ntv is the media partner and Market Access Providers Limited is performing the event management responsibilities.