A three-day long theatre festival is launched in the memory of Munier Choudhury, the pioneer of modern Bangla theatre. The event titled Munier Choudhury Theatre Festival is organised by the Theatre and Film Affairs Department of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on May 9 at the Experimental Theatre Hall of National Natyashala at 7pm. Five new and exclusive productions from the theatre departments of renowned universities including Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, Chittagong University and Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University will be showcased during the festival.
On the opening day, Theatre and Performance Studies Department of Dhaka University staged Maanush, written by Munier Choudhury. The play is a prime example of communal unity as it bears the view of non-communal consciousness. Munier wrote the drama centering on the 1947 communal riot in the region. In recent times, incidents including the communal attack on the Buddhists in Ramu, the Muslims in Mayanmar/India and the Hindus in Bangladesh give the play a timeless aspect. The play is directed by Mahbubur Rahman.
Today, the Drama and Dramatics Department of Jahangirnagar University will stage Ek Tala Dotala while the Theatre and Performance Studies Department of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University will stage Mukhora Ramoni Boshikaran. On the concluding day, the Dramatics Department of Chittagong University will stage Janak and the Theatre & Music Department of Rajshahi will stage Maharaj.