Commemorating the birth centenary of pioneering educator, litterateur and founder of Bangladesh Mohila Samity (BMS) Nilima Ibrahim, a five-day theatre festival was inaugurated Tuesday.
It is being held at the Nilima Ibrahim Auditorium of Bangladesh Mohila Samity at Bailey Road in the capital.
The five-day festival, titled “Shatabarshe Nilima Ibrahim Natyotsab 2021,” will be showcasing five plays performed by five of the country’s renowned theatre troupes: Dhaka Theatre, Natyachakra, Aranyak Natyadal, Theatre and Lok Natyadal.
An inauguration ceremony was organized on Tuesday evening to mark the occasion, which was joined by KM Khalid, state minister for cultural affairs, as the chief guest.
As discussants, legendary thespian and Honorary President of International Theater Institute (ITI) Ramendu Majumdar, Dhaka University Bangla Department Professor Bhishmadeb Choudhury, and Vice-Chancellor of the Tagore University of Creative Arts Syed Mohammad Shahed were present at the event, while former Cultural Affairs Minister and popular thespian Asaduzzaman Noor, ruling Awami League lawmaker Aroma Dutta and human rights activist Khushi Kabir, among others, were also present among the audiences.
Presided over by Bangladesh Mohila Samity President Sitara Ahsanullah, the welcome address at the ceremony was delivered by Tanya Bukth, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Mohila Samity, while Marufi Khan, vice-president of the organization, paid respect to Nilima Ibrahim.
Eti Ibrahim Khan, Nilima Ibrahim’s daughter, shared her vote of thanks to the organizers at the event, and the ceremony was anchored by Bangladesh Mohila Samity joint secretary Tamanna Rahman.
“Dr Nilima Ibrahim was not only a renowned teacher at Dhaka University but also performed major responsibilities such as being the provost of DU’s Rokeya Hall and also the first-ever female Director General of the Bangla Academy. We, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, are proud to patronize this significant cultural hub of our country founded by Nilima Ibrahim, and the government will raise the subsidy for Mohila Samity if it increases regular theatre shows and festivals,” KM Khalid said at the event.
Sitara Ahsanullah said, “On 11th October, Bangladesh Mohila Samity observed our founding President Nilima Ibrahim’s birth centenary while eminent personalities and organizations conveyed their wishes via our website. We are delighted to know that the academy is going to publish the collections of Dr Nilima Ibrahim’s literary essays, edited by Dr Bhishmadeb Choudhury, and we are really thankful to State Minister KM Khalid and the authorities of Bangla Academy for that.”
The programme also featured a cultural show where artists of Bengal Parampara Sangeetalay enthralled the audience.
From Wednesday, the drama festival will begin with Dhaka Theatre’s production ‘Nimajjan’. Theatre troupe Natyachakra will stage a monodrama titled ‘Eka Ek Nari’ on November 11, Aranyak Natyadal will stage its popular production ‘Kohe Facebook’ on November 12, Theatre will stage ‘Meraj Fakirer Maa’ on November 13 and Lok Natyadal will stage ‘Kanjus’ on November 14, every day at 7 pm.
Tickets for the plays will be available at the venue before the shows, and the festival will be concluded on November 14.
Source: United News of Bangladesh