The New Nation - Internet Edition

Entertainment Report

The Department of Theatre and Film of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has taken an initiative to honour renowned theatre personalities since 2006. As part of the initiative, this year the Academy honoured Prof Momtazuddin Ahmed for his immense contribution to Bangladeshi Theatre.

Shilpakala Academy awarded theatre personalities Askar Ibne Shaikh in 2006 and Sayeed Ahmed in 2007.

The programme was held at the National Theatre Stage of the Shilpakala Academy on May 15.

Eminent personalities and organisations from different sectors of culture greeted Prof Momtazuddin Ahmed with flowers.

Abul Kamal Shafi Ahmed, Director of the Department of Theatre and Film of the Shilpakala Academy gave the welcome speech.

Noted TV actor Abul Hayat and media personality Nawazish Ali Khan spoke at the function. Noted educationist Prof Mustafa Nurul Islam was the chief discussant, while Director General of the Shilpakala Academy Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam presided over the programme.

Renowned theatre personalities including Keramat Moula, M Hamid, Chairman of Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation Nasiruddin Yousuff, President of Sammilito Sangskritik Jote Mamunur Rashid, Chief of Aranyak Natya Dol and Milon Kanti Dey of Jatra Shilpa Unnayan Parishad felicitated Momtazuddin and gave speeches.

"I am honoured and overwhelmed. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has been a great support to my theatrical endeavours," said Prof Momtazuddin Ahmed in his speech. Prof Ahmed is a former director of the Department of Research and Publication of the Shilpakala Academy.

Prof Mustafa Nurul Islam conferred the gold medal, while Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam handed over a cheque to Momtazuddin Ahmed.

After the award giving programme and discussion, Theatre (Natok Sharani) staged scenes from Momtazuddin Ahmed's plays. In his illustrious career, Momtazuddin Ahmed has directed and written several popular plays. Scenes from 'Shaat Ghater Kana Kori,' 'Ohey Tanchak' (an adaptation of a Moliere satire), 'Khamakha Khamakha' (an adaptation of a Shakespeare comedy), 'Jamindar Darpan' (a re-writing of Mir Mosharraf Hossain's play) and 'Barnochora' were staged at the programme.

Prof Momtazuddin Ahmed is one of the most successful theatre activists in the field of satire in Bangladesh. He was born on January 18, 1935 in Maldaha in West Bengal in India. He completed masters in Bengali Literature.

Prof Ahmed has been teaching Bangla, Sanskrit and European Drama in several non-government and government colleges for over 32 years. He was a Professor of the Department of Bangla at Jagannath University. Now he is a part-time teacher at the Department of Theatre and Music of Dhaka University.

Rabindra Bharati University has included his writings 'Bibaha' and 'Ki Chaho Shankhachil' in its curriculum. Several of his plays are also included in primary, secondary and higher secondary curriculum in Bangladesh.

His vibrant career as a teacher, writer as well as an actor earned him wide recognition but theatre is the most prolific part of his career. He has written 25 plays and directed several of them. Most of his directions and writings were for his theatre troupe - Theatre (Natok Sharani). Apart from plays, he has written several novels, research papers and essays. Professor Momtazuddin Ahmed received Bangla Academy Award in 1976 and Ekushey Padak in 1997.