Comilla Theatre celebrates its 25th founding anniversary

Another landmark of Comilla is Comilla Theatre. The artistes of the cultural organisation enthralled the audience on the occasion of its 25th founding anniversary. The programme included discussions, solo, duet, chorus songs and classical dances at the auditorium of Comilla Town hall on Friday last.

Ustad Nasir Ahmed and Anjum Ara established the Comilla Theatre on June 29 in 1980. Since its inception, Comilla Theatre has staged 185 programmes, which include the rural areas around the district.

In this period, the performers of the organisation received many prizes including best director, actor and actress award. The artistes have participated in several BTV programmes, including Nreetta Nattay and Geeti Naksha.

Late advocate Mohammad Ali Imam and Ustad Nasir Ahmed were its founding president and general secretary respectively while Mohammad Khairul Kabir and Ustad Nasir Ahmed are the current president and general secretary respectively.

Presided over by Khairul Kabir the discussion began in the evening. Muhammad Nazrul Islam, Director General of Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) was the chief guest while eminent cultural personalities Alaka Das and elderly theatre artist Sujit Guha Chand were present as special guests. Eminent drama organiser Abul Hasem Appu, poet Fakhrul Huda Helal and the general secretary gave speeches.

The chief guest said that Bangladeshi cultural programmes are popular in Myanmar, Nepal and Agartala (India). The speakers called upon all concerned to help extend the cultural movement to people at the grassroots level.

Later, the cultural programme began with a chorus dance.

The participants included Nadia, Tanha, Pew, Afsana, Sama and Saif. Performers also presented a dance to a Nazrul song, titled Srishti Shukher ullashey. Pallab, a student of Dhaka University and a member of Comilla Theatre, sang Protidhani shuni ami protidhani shuni. The artistes also sang Baba boleygelo aar konodin gan korona.

The cultural programme rounded off with a chorus dance performed by Ferdous, Shuman and Atashi. Ustad Nasir Ahmed, Shuva and Rajib accompanied the artistes on keyboard, tabla and harmonium.