A two-day celebration began at Jahangirnagar University (JU) yesterday to mark the 65th birthday of Selim Al Deen, noted Bangladeshi playwright.
The department of drama and dramatics of the university, which was founded by the late playwright, has organised the programme, which includes a grand rally, placing flower wreaths at Selim’s grave, staging his dramas, a seminar and a photo exhibition on him, said sources at the university.
Teachers, students, officers and employees of the university, as well as the guests invited to the celebration, brought out a colourful rally at the old arts faculty building around 10am yesterday. Around 11am, they put wreaths at Selim’s grave near to the central mosque of the university.
Professor Farzana Islam, JU vice-chancellor, Professor Abul Hossain, pro vice-chancellor, Abu Bakr Siddique, registrar, and Nasiruddin Yousuf Bachchu, prominent theatre personality, were present there, among others.
“Selim Al Deen introduced a social movement through theatre. His plays reflected the lives of mass people, and he took drama to grassroots level by establishing Graam Theatre,” said Prof Farzana Islam while addressing the event.
Different social and cultural organisations, including the Selim Al Deen Foundation, Dhaka Theatre, and Graam Theatre, also paid respect by placing floral wreaths at his grave, sources said.
Later, a seminar titled “Bhanga Premer Osheshotto Bisheshotto: An observation on Selim Al Deen” was held at Zahir Raihan auditorium at the university, presided over by Professor Afsar Ahmed.
Students of the drama and dramatics department staged one of Selim’s plays titled “Muntasir Fantasy” at the auditorium yesterday evening.
Sandeep Chakraborty, the Indian deputy high commissioner in Bangladesh, is scheduled to attend the showing of Selim’s play “Kobi” today. Two photo exhibitions on Selim by Bareen Ghosh and Rakib Hasan and a mask exhibition by Sumon Sarker will also end today.