The historic halls of Dhaka Kendro, a cultural heritage site at the heart of Old Dhaka, came alive over the past week with the City Origins exhibition, an artistic tribute to Dhaka’s history, memory, and identity. Today, September 5, 2025, the exhibition concluded on a high note with a moving musical performance and heartfelt closing remarks from Advisor Dilruba Latif and Curator Alisha Pradhan.
The exhibition was inaugurated in the presence of distinguished guests, artists, diplomats, academics, and cultural figures, making the event a powerful confluence of art, heritage, and dialogue. Curated by Ms. Alisha Pradhan, Founder and General Secretary of the HerNet Foundation and Chief Curator of HerNet Fine Arts, City Origins stood as a testament to her mission of globalizing Bangladeshi art and culture. Over the last six years, Ms. Pradhan has made invaluable contributions to social development, particularly in empowering women and children, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and engaging in policy advocacy. Under her leadership, HerNet Fine Arts has enriched Bangladesh’s art landscape by bridging creativity with community empowerment.
The exhibition featured reflections from Advisor Dilruba Latif, who emphasized the importance of connecting contemporary art to Dhaka’s cultural roots.
The exhibition proudly showcased the works of celebrated and emerging artists, including Abdul Halim, Abdus Satter, Afroza Akhtery, Akhinur Jhorna, Dilruba Latif, Elham Huq, Fahmida Khatun, Faiza Ahmed, Fareha Zeba, Farida Zaman, Gonshai Pahlavi, Iftikhar Ahmed, Jahangir Hossain, Jamal Ahmed, Kamal Uddin, K M A Quayyum, Mohammad Eunus, Naima Haque, Priti Ali, Rania Alam, Rezauzzaman, Sanjib Saha, Shibnath Biswas, Soikat Hossain, Subhasree Gunjan, Sultanul Islam, Sushanta Kumar Adhikary, and Sumon Halder. Their collective contributions created a vibrant dialogue between tradition and modernity, capturing the spirit, history, and evolving culture of Dhaka.
The closing ceremony today resonated with emotion and gratitude as Dilruba Latif and Alisha Pradhan thanked the participating artists, partners, and guests, inviting all to continue nurturing the bond between heritage and creativity. City Origins at Dhaka Kendro will be remembered as both an artistic and cultural milestone—celebrating not just the heritage of Old Dhaka, but also the power of art to transcend time, borders, and generations.