Portraying the social and political norms of the country, a three-day-long theatre festival with the slogan Shonghotir Bajuk Joyoddhoni kicked off on Thursday in the capital’s Rabindra Sarobar at Dhanmondi.
A rally marking the festival was organised yesterday morning at around 10:30pm starting from Central Shaheed Minar and was wrapped up in front of the National Museum, Shahbagh.
The 8th National Human Rights Theatre Festival 2014 which will end today was organised by National Human Rights Theatre Council in cooperation with Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK).
Eminent actor Lucky Inam inaugurated the festival and General Secretary of National Human Rights Theatre Council Motahar Akhond gave the opening speech.
Executive Editor of the Daily Samakal, noted actor and cultural personality Azad Abul Kalam and Executive Editor of ASK were present at the inaugural ceremony. The inaugural ceremony was presided by MA Kaiyum, vice president of National Human Rights Theatre Council.
Following the inaugural session, six short plays were performed by six theatre troupes participating from different parts of the country. The first performance was Kaktarua by Jhenaidah Manabadhikar Natya Parishad which was an improvised play. The plays addresses our political chaos and its gnawing impact on the country through depicting head of political party’s characters.
Corruption against hardworking labourers of garments was portrayed by Dhaka Yes Theatre named Jobanbondi. The touching play was based on tragedies that snatched normalcy from the lives of a staggering number of people. The misdemeanours of factory owners who built illegal death traps, politicians bribed to look the other way and large retailers hiding behind policies that deem them untouchable were portrayed in the production. The tragic tale of the victims, their rescue and the role of police and media was also shown in an adept manner.
The play Krishnopokkho Ebong Amra, directed by Fayez Zahir portrayed the current political situation through a satiric way. The play focused on the sufferings of mass people and the role played by media and our political leaders.
Utsho Chittagong performed a play named Sobinoye Nibedon directed by Sumon Sarker, about handicaps and their sufferings. They established an understanding between a normal and a handicapped person that shows how both of them can work together accepting physical disabilities.
Dhaka Mohanagar’s play named Paynch directed by Bakar Bakul, portrayed a raped mother-daughter’s suffering through a symbolic way. The play started with a bamboo wrapped up with a saree which symbolised a woman’s confinement in our society. The play was based on a true story which took place in Jessore few months back. The mother and daughter were raped together and they looked for justice but because of political bindings they had suffered at each step. After the play, the troupe went for an interactive session with the audience.
Social and religious superstitions were portrayed by the play named Bou by Jahangirnagar Theatre, directed by Ariful Islam.