‘Bangabandhu O Swadhinata Natyotsab’ begins today

Theatre troupe Mahakal Natya Sampradaya begins 11-day long ‘Bangabandhu O Swadhinata Natyotsab’ celebrating the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh on the premise of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka today.

The plays of this festival will be staged in the main auditorium and Experimental Theatre Hall of the academy.

The festival will be inaugurated at 5:00pm today on the ‘Nandan Mancha’ of the Shilpakala Academy by 50 war heroes who have contributions to the victory of Bangladesh during the liberation war.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque will attend the inaugural ceremony as the chief with the festival celebration council convener Advocate Afzal Hossain in the chair. The council’s member secretary M Shahnewaz will deliver the welcome speech.

A choreography titled ‘Smarane 71’ will be performed in the opening ceremony.

Fourteen theatre troupes of Dhaka and elsewhere will perform on themes about Bangabandhu and the liberation war.

Mahakal Natya Sampradaya will stage ‘Ghumnei’ in the Experimental Theater Hall today.

Uttoradhikar Natyadal of Chattogram will stage ‘Mrityu Pakhi’ at the Experimental Theater Hall on Saturday, Drishyakabbo will stage ‘Bagh’ on Sunday, the play titled ‘Rifle’ of Shabdo Natyacharcha Kendra will stage on Monday, Bunon Theater’s play ‘Secret of History’ will be staged in the main hall on Tuesday, Bangladesh Police Theater’s play ‘Abhisapta August’ at Experimental Theater Hall on Wednesday, Sanglap Group Theater will perform their play ‘Manab Surat’ on Thursday.

A photography exhibition of Ekushey Padak winning photographer Pavel Rahman is also arranged in the lobby of the National Theater Hall with the pictures on ‘Life of Bangabandhu’.

A seminar titled ‘Ekti Amimangshita Rajnaitik Bastabata: Prekkhit Mohakaler Ghum Nei’ will be held at the festival.

Nine organisations – Liberation War Museum, Sirajganj Uttaran Mahila Sangstha, Theater Patrika, Udichi Shilpi Gosthi, Chhayanat, Bangladesh Gram Theater, Kendriya Kochi Kanchar Mela, People’s Theater Association, and Bangladesh Theater Archives – will be honoured for their contribution in the research and dissemination of culture, ideals of liberation war and Bangabandhu in 50 years of Bangladesh on December 10.