‘Jatiya Natya Utsab 2020’ opens

'Jatiya Natya Utsab 2020', organised by Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation (BGTF), was inaugurated on February 12, by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through a video conference from Ganabhaban. The 18-day festival is being held in all 64 districts, simultaneously, with the theme, 'Jongibaad- Obokkhoy-Durniti, Manbey Na E Sangskiti'.

BGTF Chairman and Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), Liaquat Ali Lucky, State Minister for Cultural Affairs, K M Khalid and Secretary of the Cultural Affairs Ministry, Dr Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, among others, were present at Ganabhaban during the video call. BSA's divisional branches in Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Sylhet joined the video conference from the DC offices at the same time.

Before formal inauguration, a dance performance with historic 7th March speech of Bangabandhu by the artistes of BSA and a group performance by dance troupe of Anik Bose, followed by Dhaka Theatre's Putra, were presented at the National Theatre Hall of BSA.  Natyachakra staged its mono-drama Eka Ek Nari at the Experimental Theatre Hall of BSA at the same time.

The second day of the festival featured the play, O Mon Pahiya, scripted and directed by Shubasish Sinha and presented by Manipuri Theatre, and Bahubachan's Aniket Sandhya at Experimental Theatre Hall. As part of the festival, 302 theatre productions will be staged at different venues of BSA, Mahila Samiti and all district Shilpakala Academy premises. More than 30,000 theatre activists from 400 theatre troupes across the country are participating in this festival.

The festival is being held in association with Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.