Theatre troupe Padatik Natya Sangsad lifted the curtain on a four-day theatre festival to pay tribute to its late president Syed Badruddin Hossain at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Thursday.
With the support of cultural affairs ministry and the BSA, the theatre troupe has organised the festival titled Syed Badruddin Hossain Smrity Natyotsab O Smarak Sammanana to mark the 101st birth anniversary of Syed Badruddin Hossain, who served as the troupe鈥檚 president till his death in 2009.
The festival is featuring 11 theatrical productions of 10 local and Indian theatre troupes and an award ceremony.
The troupes are staging plays at the National Theatre Hall, the Experimental Theatre Hall and the Studio Theatre Hall of the BSA.
Inaugural ceremony of the festival was held at the National Theatre Hall lobby.
State minister for cultural affairs Nahid Izhar Khan was present as chief guest while Bangladesh Television former director general M Hamid, thespian Mamunur Rashid and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy director general Liaquat Ali Lucky were present as special guests at the inaugural ceremony.
Mamunur Rashid said, 鈥楽yed Badruddin Hossain was my teacher. He realised the importance of culture and dedicated his life to cultural activities.鈥�
鈥楬e was always vocal about social anomalies and protested at those anomalies,鈥� he added.
M Hamid said, 鈥業t is very rare to get a teacher like Syed Badruddin Hossain nowadays. He used to inspire students to stand against social anomalies.鈥�
Liaquat Ali Lucky thanked Padatik Natya Sangsad for taking initiatives to spread the life and work of Syed Badruddin Hossain through the festival.
Padatik Natya Sangsad president Syed Tasnin Hossain presided over the ceremony.
Syed Tasnin Hossain said, 鈥楶adatik Natya Sangsad is celebrating its 47th founding anniversary this year. Lifetime president of 鈥淧adatik鈥� Syed Badruddin Hossain is the biggest inspiration for our long journey.鈥�
鈥榃e have been organising this annual festival to pay our tribute to him for the past 14 years,鈥� mentioned Tasnin Hossain, who is also the convener of festival committee.
Padatik Natya Sangsad honoured senior actor Abul Hayat and late theatre activist Mannan Hira (posthumously) with Badruddin Hossain Smarak Sammanona 2024 at the festival.
鈥業 feel that I am not old yet rather young still and I want to continue acting till my death. At this stage of life, I can only say that I want to die on the stage,鈥� said Abul Hayat.
Following the inaugural ceremony, Nagorik Natya Sampradaya staged its production titled 鈥楢ntare Bahire Chitrangada鈥�, Theatre Art Unit staged 鈥楳adhab Malanchi鈥� and Indian theatre troupe Santoshpur Anuchintan staged 鈥楽hitalar Pala鈥� on the opening day.
The second day of the festival will feature Santoshpur Anuchintan鈥檚 play titled 鈥楳iscarriage鈥�, Theatre鈥檚 鈥楶ohale Sharbari鈥� and Khokon Boyati and his troupe鈥檚 鈥楰omola Sundori鈥�.
Aranyak Natyadal will stage 鈥楥ompany鈥� at the National Theatre Hall, Padatik Natya Sangsad will stage 鈥楪unjan Bibir Pala鈥� at the Experimental Theatre Hall and Batighor will stage 鈥楶arabola鈥� at the Studio Theatre Hall on May 18.
Jahangirnagar University鈥檚 drama and dramatics department will stage 鈥楥han Mohuyar Kiccha鈥� and Nabarash will stage 鈥楿npurush鈥� on May 19.
Besides, a cultural programme comprising street plays, recitations, songs and dance recitals will be held in front of the National Theatre Hall every day from 5:00pm to 6:30pm.
