Two-day ‘Jatiya Rabindra Sangeet Utsab’ begins

The two-day ‘Rabindra Sangeet Utsab’, organised by Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha (BRSSS) has begun yesterday at International Mother Language Institute auditorium in Segun Bagicha of the capital.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid inaugurated the 33rd edition of the festival as chief guest yesterday morning and handed over the awards to artiste of defunct Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra Ashraful Alam and singer Rafiqul Alam.

K M Khalid said, “Established in 34 years back, this year BRSSS organised the National Rabindra Sangeet Festival like every time. I applaud them for this wonderful arrangement. Events like the Jatiya Rabindra Sangeet Utsab enrich our musical world as well as add new dimensions to it.”

Presided over by Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha president eminent Tagore singer Tapan Mahmud, general secretary Pijush Barua delivered the welcome speech at the inaugural ceremony.

After the inauguration, the main programme began with the rendition of National anthem. Later, they rendered ‘O Amamr Desher Mati, Tomar Pore Thekai Matha’ and ‘Tomar Surer Dhara Jhore Jethay Taroi Pare’.

Khandakar Khairuzzaman Qayyum, Bula Mahmud, Tanjima Toma, Aniket Acharya, Sagarika Jamali, Bishnu Mandal, Kanak Khan, Sima Sarkar, Abdur Rashid, Rifat Jamal Mitu, Khokon Das, Sajjad Hossain, Zafar Ahmed, Rabita Sabah, Chanda Ray and others also performed on the first day of the festival.

At the event, awardees Rafiqul Alam rendered ‘Uttar Bay Janay shason, Patlo toper Shusko ason’ and ‘Oi Janalar Kachhe Bose Ache’, while Ashraful Alam recited some lines from ‘Anandoloke Mongolaloke Biraj Satyasundar’.

Earlier in 2019, Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha celebrated the 31st edition of the festival. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, they did not arrange the festival for last two years, but they arranged 32nd edition in 2020 virtually. This year the festival has been dedicated to all artists, writers, journalists, poets and cultural personalities who have passed away during Corona period. The two-day festival will feature recitation and cultural programme.