Nine orgs honoured at ‘Bangabandhu O Swadhinata Natyotsab’

Nine cultural organisations have been honoured for their contribution in spreading Bengali cultural practices and uninterrupted research on 1971 Liberation War and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

As part of the ongoing ‘Bangabandhu O Swadhinata Natyotsab’ organised by theatre troupe Mahakal Natya Sampraday, the organisers honoured Liberation War Museum, Sirajganj Uttaran Mohila Sangstha (SUMS), Theatre Patrika, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpi Gosthi, Chhayanaut, Bangladesh Gram Theatre, Kendriya Kachi Kanchar Mela, People’s Theatre Association and Bangladesh Theatee Archives.

Awards were handed over to the representatives of the organisations at an award ceremony held at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) on Friday.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid attended the event as the chief guest with Advocate Afzal Hossain, convener of ‘Bangabandhu O Swadhinata Natyotsab’ committee, in the chair.

Liberation War Museum Trustee Dr Sarwar Ali, Kachi Kanchar Mela’s Syed Abul Barak Alvi, Udichi Shilpi Gosthi General Secretary Jamshed Anwer Tapan, Chhayanaut General Secretary Laisa Ahmad Lisa, and Bangladesh Theater Archives Director Dr Babul Bishwas received the award on behalf of their respective organisations.

Khurshid Alam received the award on behalf of quarterly theatre newspaper ‘Theatre Patrika’ while freedom fighter Rahila Begum and Asifa Chowdhury received the award on behalf of Sirajganj Uttaran Mohila Sangstha and Kamrul Hasan received it on behalf of Gram Theatre.

“Mahakal Natya Sampraday have honoured individuals and organisations who have been making contributions to the country’s culture. It’s a great initiative,” State Minister KM Khalid said at the event.

“The ongoing theatre festival (‘Bangabandhu O Swadhinata Natyotsab’) will be bigger in the coming days,” he added.

After receiving the award, Liberation War Museum Trustee Dr Sarwar Ali said, “It’s a great achievement. We are earnestly grateful for awarding the Liberation War Museum.”

The festival committee’s member secretary Md Sahnewaz delivered the welcome speech at the event anchored by Mir Zahid Hassan.

Later, Mahakal Natya Sampraday staged their play ‘Sraban Tragedy’, a biographical depiction of Bangabandhu in the context of his assassination.

Beginning from December 3 at the Shilpakala Academy, curtains of ‘Bangabandhu O Swadhinata Natyotsab’ will fall tomorrow. The 11-day festival is showcasing dramas based on the life of Bangabandhu and the 1971 Liberation War, produced by 14 theatre groups from Dhaka and elsewhere the country.