The celebration of the 40th founding anniversary of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, the premier cultural organisation in the country, kicked off with its inaugural programme at 6pm on February 19 at the academy premises. In attendance were Asaduzzaman Noor, minister for cultural affairs, Ramendra Majumder, prominent theatre personality, Hashem Khan, famed painter, Liaquat Ali Lucky, director general of BSA, and many other cultural personalities.
Mostafa Nurul Islam, the first director general of BSA and a national professor, launched the celebration by sounding forty bell tolls, releasing a hot air balloon, igniting forty candles and setting off colourful fireworks.
Chief guest Asaduzzaman Noor said in his speech that cultural organisations like BSA were necessary to fight against fundamentalism, superstition, religious hypocrisy, illiteracy, and to uphold the Liberation War’s motto. The government would take necessary steps to make the organisation more dynamic and broaden its service towards every citizen.
The two-day programme of the celebration featured renditions of patriotic songs, group dances, recitals, musical concerts and acrobatic performances. The dance troupes Dhriti Nrittalok and Rewaz Performing Arts staged several eye catching dances choreographed by Warda Rihab and Munmun Ahmed (respectively). The famed Dalia Ahmed recited the poem Basonti by Kazi Nazrul Islam. Chandana Majumder and Kiran Chandra Roy performed several famous local folk songs.
Fusion band Joler Gaan started their performance with popular love song Bokul Phul. The audience had been waiting for their appearance, and when the band began, the crowd erupted with joy. They performed Paater Gaan, Ei Pagoler Bhalobasha and Emon Jodi hoto with instrumentals, which took the audience to a new level of musical experience.
The Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Acrobatic Troupe also mesmerised audiences with their astonishing performance.
Over the years the academy has been considered the main hub for the practice of theatre, especially after the establishment of National Theatre Hall. However, all kinds of cultural activities – such as dance, music, recitation and others – take place throughout the year.
The academy also promotes many folk and traditional indigenous performing arts through different programmes. An ethno-cultural archive was launched recently with the aim to preserve the traditions of different ethnic peoples in the country.
BSA regularly screens world classic and local quality films. Its National Art Gallery is mostly used for large scale exhibitions. The adjacent plaza can be used for discussions, seminars and cultural functions. An auditorium with modern features has recently been opened at the Art Plaza.
The academy was established under the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Act 1974, to practice and uphold local culture and to facilitate the arts. Now the Academy is functioning under the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Ordinance 1989.
