Different cultural organisations and institutes observed the 44th Independence and National Day of the country on Wednesday
amid much vibrancy and festivity.
The special programmes, organised by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh Liberation War Museum, Sammilito Sangskritik Jote and others, consisted of music concerts, theatre shows, jatrapala, recitation and many others.
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy organised a two-day programme that began on Tuesday at the academy with two theatre productions- Rajarbag 71 and Target Platoon- based on the war of independence that were staged at the Music and Dance Centre of the academy.
Written and directed by Mannan Hira, Rajarbag 71 is a portrayal of the courage and sacrifice of police forces that put the first resistance to the invading Pakistani army on the dreadful night of March 25.
Target Platoon is written and directed by thespian Mamunur Rashid. The play shows how common people came together to engage themselves in the war of independence.
On Wednesday, a cultural show and a theatre production were staged at the National and Experimental Theatre Halls of the academy respectively. A new theatre play titled Juddha Puran, penned and directed by Anisul Haque Barun, was premiered at the Experimental Theatre Hall on the same day. The play revolved around the mass killing in Mirpur during the war of independence.
At the National Theatre Hall, the cultural programme began with a chorus rendition of national anthem by a full-hall audience and artistes.
Following were solo as well as group song and dance recitals by noted and aspiring artistes. Popular artiste Shakila Zafar entertained the audience with the patriotic number Amar Gaaner Shuruta, followed by a romantic song Tumi Amar Prothom Sokal.
Group dance recitals were presented by artistes of Spandan and Bangladesh Academy of Fine Arts.
Another pleasing performance was by Saidur Rahman Boyati and his team who presented a few traditional songs revolving around the war of independence.
Bangladesh Liberation War Museum has observed the Independence Day with a week-long programme which began on March 22.
Each of the seven-day programme consisted of a discussion session and a cultural function. On Wednesday, the audience was entertained by a jatra pala.
Jatra troupe Desh Opera staged a history-based pala titled From Ganges to Buriganga. Written and directed respectively by Shanti Ranjan Dey and Milon Kanti Dey, the pala addressed a liberation war, in the era of Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah. The pala, set in the 14th century, in the traditional jatra flavour, enacted the fight for freedom and dignity that the independent Sultan of Bangla Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah had to brave against the powerful Firoz Shah Tughlaq, emperor of Delhi.
Sammilito Sangskritik Jote organised a programme titled Swadhinota Utsab at Rabindra Sarobar at Dhanmondi where artistes of different cultural organisations recited poems, and also performed some songs and dance numbers.
A very moving performance at the programme was a group recitation by artistes of Swarchitra. They presented a compilation of poems titled Ar Koto Rokter Dorkar Hobe. The compilation, by Mahidul Islam, consisted of fragments from many of the famous poems on the war of independence.
Artistes of Abritti Academy presented another compilation of poems titled Joy Joy Janani Bangla. Compiled by Sharmin Islam Jui, the compilation had 15 poems on the heroism of men and women of Bangladesh during the liberation war.
Besides recitations, songs and dance recitals also entertained the audience. Artistes of Swadhikar Sangskritik Kendra presented patriotic songs Sonar Bangla Puira Hoilo Chhai and Amar Janmobhumi Amar Ahonkar in chorus.
Popular peoples’ songs Tir Hara e Dhewer Sagor and Amar Protibader Bhasha were presented by artistes of Swabhumi, whereas artistes of Bhinnodhara Sangskritik Kendra presented patriotic numbers like Ore Bangla Mayer Bir Chhele and Mago Bhabna Keno in chorus.
Child artistes of different cultural organisations also performed at the programme at Rabindra Sarobar. A group of small yet skilled child artistes of Surbihar presented timeless Tagore song Jodi Tor Daak Suney Kew Na Ashe while another group presented a dance recital synchronised with the song.
Other cultural organisations also observed the day with similar programmes. At Suhrawardy Udyan, Lalon Charcha Kendra organised a programme where Lalon songs were presented. At Shahbagh, a music concert was arranged.
One of the biggest events on the Independence Day was the singing of national anthem on the morning of March 26 by more than 2.5 lakh people at the national parade ground which will be reviewed by Guinness Book of World Record for the largest number of people rendering national anthem in chorus .
-With New Age input
