Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi on Wednesday premiered a street play titled 鈥楲al Shahar鈥� at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka to mark the organisation鈥檚 57th founding anniversary.
The play narrates the movements against discrimination, including the anti-British colonial movement, the Language movement, the War of Liberation, and the recent student-led mass uprising.
The premiere of the play, written and directed by Rahman Mofiz, was inaugurated by Santal leader Rebecca Shoren.
The musical choreography drama also portrays the post-uprising situation, while mob violence and attacks on minorities created security concerns, and the interim government's failure to maintain law and order.
The music of the production was composed by Rabiul Islam Shashi and Mir Sakhawat, while the choreography was designed by Romon Islam Pritom.
Mime artistes Nithor Mahbub and Faisal Mahmud played a special role with the members of Udichi.聽
A discussion, chaired by Udichi acting president Habibul Alam, was held following the premier show.
Prothom Alo joint editor Sohrab Hassan, singer and poet Kafil Ahmed, Dhaka University Bangla department chairman professor Bhishmadeb Choudhury, Ganatantrik Sanskritik Oikya convener Mafijur Rahman Laltu, among others, also spoke.
Udichi general secretary Jamshed Anwar Topon delivered the welcome speech.
Addressing the discussion, Rebecca Shoren said that the War of Independence gave us the country, flag and land but did not ensure basic needs and rights of the people.
鈥楾he identity of 鈥淓thnic Minority鈥� given by the state made us 鈥渢ruly minority鈥�, while the majority and state made us landless,鈥� Rebecca said.
She alleged that the interim government was not working for the masses.
Bangladesh is a country of diverse culture, language and race, which needs to be protected, she said.
Kafil Ahmed said that the student leaders who also became the leaders of the uprising must be aware of the rights of the mass people, especially the working class people, as the stakeholders of the uprising.
Sohrab Hassan said that Udichi is not only a cultural organisation but also an organisation that has been awaring people about their rights.
He said that the investment and jobs had decreased after the uprising, but the political parties were now busy with capturing state power.
The symptoms of fascism are also present here, many cultural events have been postponed due to security reasons, he said.
The discussion was followed by a cultural function.
Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi was founded by Satyen Sen and Ranesh Dash Gupta on October 29, 1968.
The organisation aims at raising awareness among people through cultural activities.
Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi was awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2013.
