A weeklong “Jatiya Abritti Utsab” was inaugurated on Sunday at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital.
Information and cultural affairs minister Abul Kalam Azad opened the festival organised by Bangladesh Abritti Samanway Parishad with the slogan “Jagrata Kara Uddata Kara Nirbhai Kara Hey”.
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Parishad president Asaduzzaman Noor, also an eminent actor and recitation artiste.
Vice-chancellor of Dhaka University Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique, director general of Bangladesh television Kazi Abu Zafar Siddique, director of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Liyaquat Ali Lucky and cultural personality Nasiruddin Yousuff, among others, were present on the occasion as special guests.
The discussion was followed by recitation programme that began with the performance of Hasan Arefin.
The programme on the opening day was enriched with the performances of leading recitation artistes including Ashraful Alam, Ishteqbal Hossain, Afroza Banu, Keya Chowdhury, Kazi Arif, Shimul Mostafa and Hasan Imam.
Hasan Imam captivated the houseful audience by reciting two Tagore poems— “Hothath Dekha” and “Ami”.
Shimul Mustafa recited “Ma key”, written by Humayun Azad.
Dalia Ahmed presented Rudro Mohammad Shahidullah’s revolutionary poem “Batashe lasher gandha”.
However, the audience felt the absence of many scheduled popular artistes such as Subarna Mostafa and Pijush Bandyopaddhaya.
The recitation festival also features a seminar and a workshop.
-With New Age input
