'Patha Natok' on Ekushey

Through patha natok, the groups usually present the political scenario of the country. They are not like the traditional satirical stage plays. The duration of a street drama is not more than 40 minutes but it is very meaningful. The artistes through their performance try to suggest the role of the common people in the present society.

Saiful Islam Mahmud, president of Mahakal Theatre says, 'The respect we show to our mother tongue is not adequate. The whole year goes by without any remembrance of our glorious history. We only arrange some programmes in the month of February. Through our shows, we like to acknowledge that our mother tongue should be given its due importance in every sphere of life.'

Bangladesh Patha Natok Parishod (BPNP) organizes the groups, which display street dramas. Mannan Hira is the President and Mizanur Rahman is the General Secretary of BPNP. Out of 235 member-groups, 65 are taking part in the festival arranged by Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation (BGTF) from 24 to 29 February to observe the Ekushey. Some of the groups have already displayed patha natok in the 12-day long festival arranged by Shommilito Shakskritik Jote, which started in February 8.

'Pathe Ebar Namo Shathi, Pathei Hobe Ey Path Chena', the famous verse of Salil Chawdhury, is the slogan of BGTF's festival. Renowned groups of the city including Dhaka Theatre and Aranyak and other groups from outside the city are taking part in the Ekushey celebration. The groups from the city will get taka 500 each while the groups from the other parts of the country will get taka 1000 per show. BGTF will provide accommodation for a night for the groups coming from outside Dhaka. Each evening the audience can enjoy patha natok at The Shaheed Minar premises and the open stage near the Dhanmondi Lake.

In February and March, to celebrate the Ekushey and the Independence Day, several groups take part in the festivals arranged by BGTF, Shommilito Shankskritik Jote (SSJ) and BPNP. Since 1982, BGTF and SSJ arrange weeklong street drama festivals at the Shaheed Minar premises to commemorate the language martyrs from the first day of February while BPNP usually arranges programme in March at the same venue.