The Prominence of Pori

Within a short time span, the name Pori Moni had created quite an impact in Dhallywood. Her stepping stone to the world of glamour was through modelling, but it did not take much time for her to prove that she possessed the X factor needed to win the hearts of the movie goers. Her debut into the industry was with the film 'Rana Plaza', based on the tragic incident surrounding the actual disaster, but due to the sensitivity of the matter, the film had been postponed by the Censor Board. However, it did not prevent the talented actress from spreading her wings to soar higher. Soon she was signing new films and it has been a constant ride ever since. We met up with the contemporary actress and are proud to present to our readers the conversation we had.  
Let us begin with your uncommon name. Is it an alias or your original name?
Oh no! It is not at all an alias, it's my real name. My grandmother had planned the name for me.
After your first film, it was a nonstop ride for you with the consecutive films. What is the story behind that?
That is like an achievement for me. I guess the producers and directors trusted my acting skills and believed I could portray the desired characters well. I worked with all my dedication and perhaps that is the reason for them to cast time and again in such a short phase.
Out of all your films, how many of those were a success at the box office?
My first-released film “Bhalobasha Shimahin” was in 2015 and it proved to be a success. Whatever followed after that did quite well and it trailed a steady rate of attainment.

The name Pori Moni tends to stir some hype in the Dhallywood headlines. What are your thoughts on the publicity?
My name serves like a brand in the biz and I prefer to keep it that way. Earlier it used to pester me, to see all the facts or gossip about myself being published, but now I've gotten used to it and I'm least bothered. On the bright side, whenever there tends to be more gossip spreading, I get offered more films.
With your baby steps in the industry, you still have a long way to go. How has the journey been so far?
It is a profession that requires much caution in order to prosper. A simple mistake may put a halt to the career. I have taken advice from many that helped me advance. I feel I have learnt a lot, but not yet enough.

Why do you think the song “Dana Kata Pori” from your upcoming film “Rokto” managed to secure a million hits on YouTube within the first week of its release? And what have you learnt from it?
It is simply an act of dedication from my fans. Even though it was totally unexpected, I am delighted that all the hard work behind the film paid-off. The song was choreographed by Baba Yadav sir with extreme perfection. He was a total professional, which is what we lack on this side of our border. Whereas, on the other side, they are rather prompt about their timing, which is why I believe their outcomes tend to be nothing less than perfect.
Since you are mostly busy with your hectic schedule, how do you manage the opportunities for leisure?
I am mesmerized by the camera and the mirror, but I rarely get the time to spend with either. If I do get some free time, I usually take a nap. And if I manage to squeeze more time out, then I enjoy watching a variety of films, including foreign ones too.
Before signing up for a film, what are the aspects you scrutinize?
In the beginning, I signed up for films without much knowledge, and ended up being misled more than being assisted. The industry is a harsh place and I have come to figure that out better over the year. It is up to the director and the cameraman to portray me glamorously, otherwise, I wouldn't look appealing to the viewers. But in our country, they do not seem to abide by that. Even across the border, they tend to portray the actresses in a nice manner, but over here there are many who try to demean us in every way possible. To this day, I could not figure out the reason behind such acts, and unless that improves, our industry won't succeed. Now, I try to stay cautious, and analyse my character and the story in depth before signing up for a film.

Who are your idols in the industry?
I really look up to Shabana mam and Shabnur apu. I am also highly intrigued by the famous Suchitra Sen and often try to impersonate her when in front of the mirror.
With the variety of roles that you have ticked off the list, is there any specific character you desire to play?
Oh definitely! I am a diehard fan of Rabindranath Tagore and I wish I could portray any female character from one of his outstanding stories. I have a cupboard full of his books and my day also begins to the rhythm of his tunes.
Interviewed by Zahid Akbar

Narrated by Minam Haque

EGYPT MIGRANT SHIPWRECK: 133 bodies recovered so far

Rescue workers carry the body of a victim on a stretcher after a boat carrying migrants capsized off Egypt’s coast, in Al-Beheira, Egypt on Thursday. — Reuters photo

The death toll from a migrant boat disaster off Egypt’s coast climbed to 133 on Friday as rescuers recovered more bodies from the Mediterranean.
Survivors have said up to 450 migrants were on board the overcrowded fishing vessel that was heading to Italy from Egypt when it keeled over off the port city of Rosetta on Wednesday.
‘The death toll from the illegal migrant boat that capsized off the coast of Rosetta… has reached 133,’ the health ministry said in a statement.
The military said it had rescued 163 survivors. Recovery attempts were continuing.
Rescuers had said search operations would focus on the boat’s hold where witnesses said around 100 people had been when the vessel flipped over.
Authorities have arrested four suspected people traffickers over the tragedy, the latest in what the UN refugee agency expects to be the deadliest year on record for the Mediterranean.
The accident comes months after the EU border agency Frontex warned that growing numbers of Europe-bound migrants were using Egypt as a departure point for the dangerous voyage.
Traffickers often use barely seaworthy vessels and overload them to extract the maximum money in fares from desperate migrants.
The International Organisation for Migration said most of those rescued were Egyptians but also included Sudanese, Eritreans, a Syrian and an Ethiopian.
After Balkan countries closed the popular overland route in March and the EU agreed a deal with Turkey to halt departures, asylum-seekers turned to other ways to reach Europe.
Frontex chief Fabrice Leggeri said in June that the crossing from Egypt to Italy, which often takes more than 10 days, was becoming increasingly popular.
The UN refugee agency said on Friday that more than 4,600 non-Egyptians, many of them Sudanese and Ethiopians, had been arrested this year trying to depart from Egypt’s northern coast.
More than 10,000 people have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe since 2014, according to the United Nations.
At least 300,000 migrants have crossed the sea so far this year from various points of departure, the UN said this week.
The number is down from 520,000 in the first nine months of 2015.
But despite the lower numbers attempting the crossing, fatality rates had risen, with 2016 on track to be ‘the deadliest year on record in the Mediterranean Sea,’ said the UN refugee agency.
The European Union launched ‘Operation Sophia’ last year to destroy smuggler boats that could be used to ferry migrants across the Mediterranean.

Reports on Noor Chowdhury's expulsion from Canada false: Law minister

Law Minister Anisul Huq says the recent reports about the expulsion of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's self-confessed killer Noor Chowdhury from Canada is false. Star file photo

BSS, Dhaka

Law Minister Anisul Huq today said the recent reports about the expulsion of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's self-confessed killer Noor Chowdhury from Canada is false.
"We have contacted Bangladesh high commission in Canada to know about the matter and our envoy has told us that the report is not true. Our high commission has also contacted Bangladesh desk in the Canadian Foreign Ministry but couldn't find any authenticity of the report," the minister said.
Anisul came up with the observations while talking to journalists at his secretariat office in Dhaka.
Recently a report is appearing in the country's media that Canada has cancelled an asylum plea of Chowdhury and ordered his deportation. Today, the reporters asked the minister about Bangladesh's next step in bringing back the killer and making him face justice.
"Our efforts are still on to bring him back and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during his recent visit to Canada has talked to her counterpart Justin Trudeau regarding this. The meeting was very fruitful and the Canadian government is now considering ways to send Chowdhury back to Bangladesh," Anisul said.
Talking about Canada's stand against the death sentence, Anisul said, "They have their constitutional obligations. They have told our prime minister that they are considering ways to avoid those."
Five of the killers of Bangabandhu and most of his family were hanged on January 28, 2010, after exercising all the legal procedures. Another six death-row convicts Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haque Dalim, Noor Chowdhury, Moslemuddin, Rashed Chowdhury and Abdul Mazed are now hiding abroad. Their cohort Abdul Aziz Pasha died in Zimbabwe in 2001.