National Street Theatre Festival begins

Theatre troupe Somoy will stage the play ‘Pipra’ at the Shaheed Minar on February 4 as a part of the 7-day National Street Theatre Festival 2024. ‘Pipra’ is based on a short story written by Humayun Ahmed. The play has been written and directed by Akter Uzzaman.

Fakhrul Islam Mithu, Mahmudul Alam, Saiful Babu, Rakib Al Hasan, are acting in this play, which has a message of raising anti-rape awareness. Mansura Akhtar Lovely has designed the outfit.

It tells the story of a man named Makbul, who confesses to harassing women after being chased by ants everywhere. Makbul, who cheats women by pretending to be a gentleman, harasses his niece, who commits suicide. Afterwards, ants start to chase Maqbool. He opens up to a doctor and pleads for a cure for his rare condition. The doctor replies that nature sent ants to punish Maqbool.
With the slogan ‘The principle of politics is art, literature and culture’, this year National Street Theatre Festival 2024 has begun at the Shaheed Minar on Thursday. Organized by Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation, the 7-day festival will continue till February 7.

This year, the festival will take place across 21 zones in eight divisions, including the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka. At the festival, over 300 troupes are staging street plays, among them twenty eight Dhaka-based theatre troupes will perform.

Vice-chancellor of Dhaka University Professor ASM Maksud Kamal inaugurated the festival on Thursday, where thespian Ataur Rahman was present as chief guest.  Presided over by the BGTF chairman and director general of the BSA Liaquat Ali Lucky, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote president Ghulam Quddus and Bangladesh Path Natak Parishad president Mizanur Rahman were present as special guests. The BGTF acting secretary general Chandan Reza delivered the welcome speech at the event.

Dhaka Sangskritik Dal staged three group songs, including the national anthem and Amar Bhaiyer Rakte Rangano Ekushuy February. Besides, the BSA Children Dance Troupe staged a dance recital at the inaugural event.

For 34 years, the BGTF has been hosting this festival in honour of the language martyrs at the Central Shaheed Minar premises.