BGTF street drama festival

Paying respect to the language martyrs by laying wreath at the Shaheed Minar, the chief guest of the programme Abdul Matin said, 'The patha natak [street drama] has a tremendous effect in every sphere of our life. Whenever the nation faced any crisis, these street plays gave us the moral strength and thus we won over all those moments of tests and tribulations and it will also help us in the future.'

Mamunur Rashid, the President of BGTF, presided over the programme. Renowned theatre personality Mamtazuddin Ahmed, artist Rafiqunnabi, Luva Nahid Choudhury, Director of Bengal Foundation, Keramat Maola, the convenor of the festival, Ataur Rahman, Selim Al Deen, Asaduzzaman Noor, Liakat Ali Lucky and Golam Kuddus also spoke at the event.

Drama is an art form that could be used as a language of protests against the evil. The journey of the patha natak festival began in 1985, which 'has turned into revolutions whenever crises have threatened our social life', said the speakers. The drama activists also circulated their 14-point demand in the form of leaflets among the audience at the festival scene.

As darkness spread over, the enthusiastic crowd gathered to enjoy the plays. Mahakal Natya Sampraday marked the beginning with its allegorical but easily perceivable drama Bhoyonkor Padoshabdo. The piece was composed and directed by Shafiqul Islam. Then came the Universal Theatre with Udbastu, written by Babul Bhattacharya and directed by Ramiz Malik.

The Kolomer Shoinik Natya Shangshad was the only group from outside Dhaka. The group from Magura presented Shangram Cholbei written by Salahuddin Ahmed and directed by Dilip Kumar Adhikari.

Under the direction of Akhtaruzzaman, Shomoy staged Kabor, a famous drama of Munier Choudhury. The last performance was Natyamela's Shong Shomachar composed and directed by Al-Amin Selim.

Besides the Shaheed Minar, the festival is also being held at the Dhanmondi Lake amphitheatre. M Hamid presided over the programme while Tareq Anam, Mannan Hira, Nader Chowdhury and others addressed the crowd. At Dhanmondi, Kolomer Shoinik Natya Shangshad from Magura and Mahakal Natya Sampradaya from Dhaka presented the same plays that they staged at the Shaheed Minar. Bidrohi Natya Goshthi from Mymensingh played Bornomalar Chokhe Jol written and directed by Azhar Hablu. Shanglaap Group Theatre and Nagorik Natyangan came up with their gleaming performance of the plays Mukti Mukti and Shokun Shomachar.