Dhaka:A musical narrative based on Allen Ginsberg's "September on Jessore Road" was performed by the Narsingdi theatre troupe Bandhanhara at the Chhayanaut auditorium in Dhanmondi. The event, organized by the 27 Dhanmondi Gai Banglar Gaan Parshad, highlighted the historical significance of the poem, which Ginsberg wrote after witnessing the 1971 refugee crisis.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Fazlul Kabir Tuhin of the organizing group noted that while the American government opposed Bangladesh's independence in 1971, the American people supported it. He cited Ginsberg's poem and the Concert for Bangladesh at Madison Square Garden as evidence of this support. Tuhin expressed gratitude to Bandhanhara, describing the performance as a token of appreciation for the Americans who stood with Bangladesh.
The evening also featured accounts from freedom fighters and individuals who experienced refugee life during the war. Razzakul Haider Chowdhury and Satyajit Majumdar shared their experiences, while Dr. Sarwar Ali and Mahbub Zaman spoke about the challenges of camp life and the human catastrophe of the war.
The program was structured to present the original poem, its Bengali translation, and the stage adaptation. Reciter Belayet Hossain read Ginsberg's poem in English, followed by Regina Wali Lina's Bengali rendition. The evening continued with musical performances by Abida Sultana Setu and a guest singer, leading to Bandhanhara's 35-minute musical narrative directed by Kamzzaman Tapu.
The event underscored the ongoing relevance of the poem, particularly as Bangladesh now hosts nearly a million Rohingya refugees. The organizers aimed to keep the history of the Liberation War alive for new generations through poetry, music, and theatre, reminding audiences of the enduring impact of displacement and the nation's past struggles.