Hiroshima Day observed
Mainul Hassan
August 6 is observed as the "Hiroshima Day" around the world. On this day in 1945, an atomic bomb "Little Boy" was dropped on the city of Hiroshima by the US air force, followed by the detonation of the "Fat Man" nuclear bomb over Nagasaki on August 9. They are the only instances of the use of nuclear weapons in warfare.The death toll from the immediate blast at Hiroshima was roughly estimated at 70,000 and in the decades that followed many more died from illnesses caused by radiation. In the years that followed the death toll at Hiroshima and Nagasaki totalled 3,45,000. The day is observed all over the world with special vigils and fervour. Peace activists arrange various events including rallies, awareness programmes and more to mark the day. To observe Hiroshima Day, Liberation War Museum organised a programme featuring discussion and musical performance on August 6. Rabiul Hossain, a trustee of the museum and Yusuke Ozawa, secretary, Cultural Affairs, Embassy of Japan were present at the programme. The discussion was followed by a play Sadakor Swapno by theatre troupe Palakar. The play narrates the tragic fate of a young Japanese girl named Sadako. During the Hiroshima bombing she was only two years old. Miraculously she survives the bombing but eventually cancer is detected in her body. A friend tells her that if she can make 1000 paper birds she will be cured and so she starts making birds. After making 640 paper birds, Sadako dies. Students from School of Human Development and Kamalapur School and College performed songs, recitation and dance. On the occasion theatre troupe Shopnodal held a photography exhibition at Shilpakala Academy. Since 2002 Shopnodal has been holding programmes on Hiroshima Day. At the exhibition, photographs on display featured the aftermath of the Hiroshima bombing. The images depicted the horrors of war. Shopnodal also staged a play Tringsho Shotabdi at the Experimental Theatre Stage. Based on a play written by Badol Sarkar, Tringsho Shotabdi was directed by Zahid Ripon. The play depicts the consequences of war and brings to light its impact on human psyche. Very often soldiers and victims of wars experience psychological trauma, resulting in disorders. The issue of human rights violation at the notorious Guantanamo Bay prison was also highlighted in the play. "Every year we stage this play on August 6. Through the play we try to generate awareness on the evils of war," said Zahid. Prior to the play a short discussion was held. Ramendu Majumdar, president of ITI, Bangladesh; theatre personalities Ataur Rahman and S.M. Mohsin spoke at the discussion.
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