Renowned cultural activists talk about their achievements and expectations

Two renowned cultural activists of the country--Ramendu Majumdar, the President of International Theatre Institute (ITI) Bangladesh Branch and Mamunur Rashid, the President of Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation(BGTF)--recently made their observations to The Daily Star.

Ramendu Majumdar says, 'Last year, we have successfully organised ITI drama festival in Bangladesh. This year it might not be pleasant for the cultural activists because of the existing political situation.We wish that the government offers more facilities for the cultural activists and not try to control their activities. Cultural exchange is very helpful to enhance the image of a country. Last year, the government has withdrawn the restriction for sending non-governmental cultural team abroad. I hope that this year they will also do the same. We hope that the newly opened, National Theatre Stage will be used only for drama and artistes will get more facilities offered by the Shilpakala Academy. Shilpakala Academy should also jointly organise drama festivals. I expect that they will arrange production based cultural programmes involving the cultural activists from district level. I hope that the cultural activists in the country will strongly oppose fundamentalism and will never compromise with the values of 1971.'

Mamunur Rashid is very much conscious about the progress of stage drama. He says, 'We have arranged many workshops on drama last year. In the playwrights' workshop we could involve all the renowned dramatists of the country as instructors. We organised drama festivals at the division level. We have patronised many theatrical groups for new productions and have also submitted our fourteen-point demand to the authority. They have already opened The National Theatre Stage, which was one of our demands.' Talking of this year's expectations the BGTF president says, 'We want that the authority will immediately open the Mahanagar Nattya Mancha at Gulistan. We are hopeful to arrange a colourful drama festival. Moreover, we would like to organise workshops on direction and designing pretty soon. We will continue to give logistic support to the groups for new productions in co-operation with Bengal Foundation. We hope that the authority will acquiesce some of our other demands already submitted to them.'