The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The 59th birth anniversary of the late playwright Selim Al-Deen to be held on August 18. Bangladesh Shilkapala Academy and theatre group Dhaka Theatre are going to organise a six-day programme to observe his birth anniversary.

The anniversary will be inaugurated on August 18. The aim of the anniversary is to pay tribute to the eminent playwright. This was disclosed at a press conference at the Conference Room of Jatiya Natyashala of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Sunday.

Nasir Uddin Yousuf, Director of Dhaka Theatre and Convener of Selim Al-Deen Janma Utsab Parishad, read out a written statement and briefed the detailed outlined of the programmes.

Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam, Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, theatre personality Shimul Yousuf, Shafi Kamal, Ghulam Quddus, among others, were present at the conference.

Yusuf said, "The programmes include drama shows, screening of documentaries, display of mementos and installation arts and seminars. He is a bold, committed and powerful playwright with a highly individual approach, both in theme and style, in the contemporary Bengali drama."

The festival will end on August 23. Dhaka Theatre will honour six playwrights from India and Bangladesh during the festival for their contributions to theatre. Rasheda K Chowdhury, Adviser to the Ministry of Primary, Mass Education and Cultural Affairs is expected to inaugurate the festival as chief guest at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, said Nasir Uddin Yusuf.

In the festival, Dhaka Theatre and Swapnasandhani, a theatre group from Kolkata, will stage five plays - 'Jaibati Kanyar Mon,' 'Prachya,' 'Nimajjan,' 'Hargoj' and 'Binodini' - from August 19. Documentary screening on Selim Al-Deen will start on August 18 with two shows every afternoon, said the organisers.

A two-day seminar on the works of Selim will begin on August 22 where Prof Arun Sen, Mofidul Haque, Lutfar Rahman and Kazi Sayeed Hossain will present four key-note papers, said the organisers.