DHAKA: A three-day ‘Bangladesh Cartoon Fest 2014’ is drawing the attention of the viewers at Drik gallery in city’s Dhanmondi area.

Around 100 cartoons and illustrations, done by forty professional and amateur cartoonists, are on display at the festival, organized by Bangladesh Cartoonist Association (BANCARAS) and sponsored by the youth magazine ‘Symposium’.

The artworks, categorized under two titles of ‘internet and social networking’ and ‘open theme’, are drawing the attention of a large number of visitors.

The artists used watercolor, oil, acrylic and digital media to create these artworks. The exhibition presents both cartoons and caricatures.

The organizers have arranged a live caricature session to make the festival lively and interactive.

Symposium editor Syeda Iffat Hossain and Cartoon magazine Unmad editor and also BANCARAS advisor Ahsan Habib were present at the inaugural ceremony on Tuesday.

BANCARAS president Sadat Uddin Ahmed Amil presided over the ceremony.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Syeda Iffat Hossain said, ‘Youths can play a vital role in solving problems, stimulating thoughts and making dialogues about issues that are felt difficult to communicate otherwise’.

Ahsan Habib said, ‘Bangladesh Cartoon Fest 2014 is a long waiting great news for the young cartoonists in the country. Viewers will enjoy the cartoonists’ thoughts and humorous activities in the frames at Drik gallery’.

Speaking at the program, BANCARAS president Sadat Uddin Ahmed said cartoon has established itself as a popular art form and Bangladesh Cartoon Fest 2014 is such a platform where young, amateur and professional cartoonists can develop themselves through meeting together and sharing views and knowledge.
 
Later, Syeda Iffat Hossain and Ahsan Habib jointly awarded young cartoonist Faridur Rahman Razib with ‘Cartoonist Shanto Award’ in a bid to promote cartooning among the young generation in Bangladesh.

‘Cartoonist Shanto Padak’ is a joint initiative of BANCARAS and Symposium honoring late cartoonist Tariqul Islam Shanto, one of the most influential and versatile cartoonists of his time. He died in February in 2013.

SHORGOL, an event management company, is playing key role as the event manager of the festival, which will remain open everyday from 3:00pm to 8:00pm till April 17.

BDST: 1542 HRS, APR 16, 2014