Light and sound show at Suhrawardy Udyan
Starting from March 7, a three-daylong light and sound show, titled “Bangladesh-er Hridoy Hotey”, was held at Suhrawardy Udyan. The show was held to celebrate the ‘month of independence’.
Our national flag was hoisted for the first time in this month [March 2] in 1971. Bangabandhu delivered his historic speech on March 7, 1971. Following the black night of atrocities, the declaration of independence went on air on March 26, 1971.
Planned and directed by Nasirul Haque Khokon, the light and sound show presented a thousand year-old history tracing the origin of Bangladesh. Scripted by Sohel Anwar, the show featured narration by eminent actor and reciter Asaduzzaman Noor.
Starting with a Tagore song, “Sharthok Janam Amar”, the documentary portrayed Bangabandhu’s historic March 7 speech, reference to history in poetry and music. Two poems — “Amar Porichoy” by Syed Shamsul Haque and “Shadhinota Ei Shabdo-ti Kibhabey Amader Holo” by Nirmolendu Guun — were part of the presentation.
Students’ Movement in 1962, Bangabandhu’s declaration of six point charter in 1966, Agartala Conspiracy Case in 1968, Mass Upsurge in 1969, AL’s unprecedented victory in the 1970 election and finally Liberation War in 1971 were evocatively presented in the show.
Artistes from several theatre troupes — Centre for Asian Theatre, Theatre (Baily Road), Prachyanat, Dhaka Padatik, Natyachakra, Nagarik Natyangan, Palakar, Sanglap, Bongorango and Kranti — made the presentation exciting as they performed to Shamsur Rahman’s poems “Barnaomala Amar Dukhini Barnomala” and “Asad-er Shirt”. Actors also donned the roles of martyred intellectuals like Munier Chowdhury, Shahidullah Kaisar, Zahir Raihan, GC Dev and others.
General Niazi with 93000 soldiers surrendered on December 16, 1971 at Suhrawardy Udayan (then Racecourse Maidan). Bangabandhu also delivered his homecoming speech on January 10, 1972 at this venue. The documentary did not miss any of these historic moments.
Nasirul Haque Khokon and Junaed Yusuf jointly designed the lights while Ahsan Reza Tushar designed the sound. Mohammad Rafi Suman directed the choreography. Ramzan Ali edited the documentary while Nur Uddin Faruk Shuvo was in charge of graphics design.
Courtesy of The Daily Star
