Publication ceremony of Brand

(L-R) Prof Zillur Rahman Siddiqui, Prof Khan Sarwar Murshid, Norwegian Ambassador Aud Lise Northeim and Selina Hossain at the event. PHOTO: STAR

Chaired by Professor Khan Sarwar Murshid, the guest of honour was Aud Lise Norheim, Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy, Dhaka.

In his welcome speech, Professor Abdul Mannan, the president of the Centre for Asian Theatre (CAT), the organising group of the event, focused on various remarkable theatrical events initiated by the troupe. "Next year, to observe the 100th birth anniversary of Henrik Ibsen, we will arrange an international theatre festival in Dhaka, including theatre troupes from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal and China," said Mannan.

Aud Lise Norheim said, "Ibsen is a universal playwright. Though Brand is not as popular as his other plays, a few verses of the play are well quoted. Ibsen in Brand has portrayed a religious fanatic, who through his tragic end has confronted the viewer with some pertinent questions. It is not easy to translate a foreign play written in verse form with so many cultural and religious allusions. Translator Manzur-e-Mawla's effort is commendable."

Professor Zillur Rahman Siddiqui, poet Abdul Mannan Syed, novelist Selina Hossain and Professor Firdaus Azim were present on the occasion.

The publication ceremony was followed by the staging of Brand by CAT.