Dhaka Lit Fest 2023 officially kicks off

The curtain on the 10th edition of the Dhaka Lit Fest was officially raised with an enthralling cultural performance at the Bangla Academy premises on Thursday.

People of all ages showed up at the DLF in droves on the first day as the event made a dazzling comeback after a three-year hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, Nobel laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah, and Indian writer and literary critic Amitav Ghosh inaugurated the event at the Bangla Academy's Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad Auditorium in the morning.

DLF Directors Kazi Anis Ahmed, Ahsan Akbar, and Sadaf Saaz Siddiqi were also present at the program.

At the opening ceremony, Nobel laureate writer Abdulrazak Gurnah said: “I have come to Bangladesh for the first time. I hope to see something that I have never seen in my life through this event.”

He added that the beginning of the event had already managed to surprise him.

Abdulrazak Gurnah Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

Indian writer and literary critic Amitav Ghosh said: “I feel honoured to have come to such an event. I am a Bangladeshi in a way. My mother is from Gopalganj, and my father is from Bikrampur. I grew up in Bangladesh. I always talk about Bangladesh. Bangladesh's language is very beautiful. Bangladesh and the Bangla language are  gradually becoming a part of my life.

“I went to the immigration camp in Italy. I have heard the stories of how Bangladeshis and Pakistanis try to enter Europe by crossing the Mediterranean Sea. The stories of their trying to enter Europe on foot and through the forest are very touching. Bangladesh is a regional leader in climate change and its GDP is quite good. Therefore, there is much to celebrate,” he added. 

In his speech, the acclaimed writer thanked everyone in Bangla.

Amitav Ghosh Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid said the Ministry of Cultural Affairs was happy to be associated with the event and wished it success.

KM Khalid Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

Dhaka Lit Fest Director Dr Kazi Anis Ahmed, who is also the publisher of Dhaka Tribune, began his address by thanking everyone involved in helping arrange the event, and recalling the loved ones lost during the Covid-19 pandemic.

 “A scientist works in isolation, just as a writer writes in solitude. Those who attend and participate here are very valuable. A lot of discussions, debates and sparks of creativity can be seen here. It is very difficult to predict what will happen. When we know that something is going to happen, the discussion becomes part of the culture. We hope a new spark will be stirred here. I don't know how, but it must happen,” he continued.

Kazi Anis Ahmed Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Dhaka Lit Fest Producer and Director Sadaf Saaz said: "This event has been going on for more than a decade. We are here today after facing many challenges in the past years and with the help of friends. The pandemic isolated us from each other. The pandemic has taught us how much we need each other. Today we are celebrating a festival in this place. With an open mind, we will be able to enjoy various events over the next four days. We are honoured to have world-renowned writers participating with us.”

Sadaf Saaz Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Dhaka Lit Fest Director Ahsan Akbar said: "We don't know what our future is, but we can shape it. We will learn from each other at the Dhaka Lit Fest for the next four days.”

Ahsan Akbar Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Earlier in the morning, Bangladesh's biggest event on world literature and culture began with a performance of spiritual songs at the Bangla Academy lawn. Around 500 writers, poets, performers, intellectuals, journalists, and internationally acclaimed prize-winning speakers will take part in over 170 sessions of the four-day event.

Bangla Tribune

Organizers said the historic Bangla Academy premises will become more vibrant through the presence of eminent personalities from five continents, including Nobel Prize-winning author Abdulrazak Gurnah.

The event will feature winners of the Pulitzer, International Booker, Neustadt International, and PEN/Pinter prizes, as well as the Prix Médicis, Academy Award, Windham-Campbell Prize, Albert Medal, Waterstones Children's Book Prize, and Aga Khan Award.

Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

This event will feature conversations, dialogues, film screenings, art exhibitions, music, cultural shows and much more.

Children up to 12 years of age will not need any ticket to enter. People can complete their registration by visiting the event website and entering their names, age, gender, occupations, mobile numbers, and email. After entering all the information correctly, they can select their ticket categories.

Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Meanwhile, there is good news for students. They can buy tickets for Tk200 each. If students buy tickets for four days together, it will cost them Tk500.

A four-day VIP ticket will be available for Tk10,000. Free parking facilities and access to the DLF special lounge with a VIP ID card (including lunch) will be available under the patron category.