Discussion on poems, recitation of own poems by renowned local and foreign poets, and performance of theatre activists at Amar Ekushey Boi Mela delighted visitors yesterday, the third day of the month-long fair.
An international poetry festival was held on Bangla Academy premises while in association with the fair authorities, Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation began a month-long street theatre and drama festival at the Mukto Moncho at Suhrawardy Udyan.
Munshiganj Theatre staged a street play yesterday.
“It is a great feeling that we see stage performances at the fair. It gives the month-long festival a new dimension too,” said Swapna Roy, a student of Eden College.
Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation General Secretary Akteruzzaman said they would stage 28 street plays and the same number of stage dramas during the fair.
He said street theatre groups from different districts would participate in the festival.
The international poetry festival began with a discussion at Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad Auditorium in the morning where poet Nurul Huda presented a keynote on the trends of poetry in Bangladesh.
British poet Joe Winter who translated the poetry of Jibanananda Das also addressed the session, which was presided over by famed poet Syed Shamsul Haque.
Several Bangladeshi poets, including a number of foreign poets, recited their own poems at the festival.
There were 63 new arrivals yesterday, putting the total number of published books at 70.
