Different cultural organizations in the country observed the National Mourning Day, marking the 46th death anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by holding a variety of virtual and hybrid-format events on Sunday.
Organizations including Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh National Museum, Bangladesh Abritti Somonnoy Parishad, Liberation War Museum, Bangladesh Sangeet Sangathan Somonnoy Parishad and others streamed cultural programmes and discussions on their official Facebook pages.
Bangla Academy arranged a webinar featuring State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, National Professor and the academy’s current Chairman Rafiqul Islam, Liberation War Museum trustee Mofidul Hoque, recitation artist and Sammilita Snagskritik Jote’s General Secretary Hasan Arif, singer Timir Nandi, recitation artist Rupa Chakrabarty, and Ministry of Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Abul Monsur.
Poet Nurul Huda, Director General of Bangla , delivered his welcome speech at the webinar, which was hosted by Bangla Academy Secretary AHM Lokman.
A handful of online events were organized by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), marking the National Mourning Day on its Facebook page. As part of its events, BSA organized a virtual programme on Sunday night which was joined by State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid as the chief guest.
National professor and Bangla Academy Chairman Rafiqul Islam, Cultural Affairs Ministry secretary Md Abul Mansur, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy secretary Asaduzzaman, Bangla Academy Director General poet Nurul Huda, and Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee assistant general secretary Dr Nuzhat Choudhury were present as discussants at the event, which was presided over by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy director general Liaquat Ali Lucky.
Thespian and former Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, Dhaka University Pro-Vice Chancellor poet Dr Muhammad Samad, poet Nirmalendu Goon, Indian-Bengali singer Mitali Mukherjee, poet Kazi Rozi, singer-composer Naquib Khan, poet Asim Saha, singer Timir Nandi, poet Tarik Sujat, and others performed in the online cultural programme followed by the discussion, moderated by media personality Dr Abdun Noor Tushar.
BSA has also launched a six-day virtual drama show on Bangabandhu on its Facebook page and YouTube channel. Performed and recorded by District Shilpakala Academy in Chittagong, Kushtia, Thakurgaon, Manikganj, Moulvibazar and Barguna, the opening day drama titled ‘Rajnityr Kobi’ was presented by Chittagong District Shilpakala Academy at 8 pm on Sunday.
Liberation War Museum uploaded a tribute video titled “August-er Bishonno Bikel” on its Facebook page, as a homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Directed by trustee of the Liberation War Museum Mofidul Hoque, the video features a recitation by former Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor reading from the late Syed Najmuddin Hashim’s writing, and Bhaskar Bandyopadhyay reciting Rabindranath Tagore’s poem “Pother Sheshe” which was synchronised with dancer Sudeshna Swayamprabha’s dance recital, choreographed by Sharmila Bandhopadhyay.
Bangladesh Sangeet Sangathan Somonnoy Parishad organised a webinar, streamed live on its Facebook group featuring writer-columnist Abdul Gaffar Choudhury, thespian and International Theatre Institute (ITI) President Ramendu Majumdar, and Bangladesh Sangeet Sangathan Samannay Parishad President Tapan Mahmud. The speakers spoke on the life and works of Mujib at the programme, which was anchored by the General Secretary of the organisation Biswajit Roy.
Bangladesh National Museum organized a hybrid discussion ceremony at its Sufia Kamal Auditorium. State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, President of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) and former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique, Ministry of Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Abul Monsur virtually joined and spoke at the event, among others.
The discussion was chaired by Khandaker Mostafizur Rahman, Director General of Bangladesh National Museum.
Several other cultural organizations, educational institutions, television channels and radio stations also arranged multiple discussions and cultural programmes, commemorating the life and works of the Father of the Nation and his family members.
Source: United News of Bangladesh