Prison Theatre and cultural activities open in 68 prisons throughout Bangladesh

Three students from the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Dhaka recently started conducting research and studies in Prison Theatre and cultural activities.

Prison Theatre and cultural activities have already received the approval from the University of Dhaka, Ministry of Home Affairs, People's Republic of Bangladesh and Department of Prisons for three years in all 68 prisons across the country. Two MPhil, and one PhD student will also conduct research and studies based on the activities in prisons for the next three years. Their academic supervisor is Professor Dr Israfeel Shaheen from the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Dhaka.

According to Professor Ishrafeel such research and cultural programmes specifically designed for the prison inmates in Bangladesh are unique, as our earliest expressions in modern Bengali Theatre were through Munier Chowdhury's celebrated play "Kobor," which was written during his imprisonment and performed by prisoners in Dhaka Central Jail in 1953.

"Our research and cultural activities will take particular note of Bangabandhu's autobiographical narratives from "Karagarer Rojnamcha" and "Oshomapto Attojiboni", episodes of which will be performed, designed and directed by the prison inmates at different prisons", shares Professor Israfeel. "We will visit Keraniganj Central Jail by the end of this month, in connection with this programme."

Prison Theatre and associated cultural activities are the first such initiatives to launch in Bangladesh. It will later extend into juvenile correction centres, mental hospitals, and rehabilitation centres. Professor Israfeel, a graduate of Delhi's National School of Drama, shares that the prison theatre participants  will also enact the murders of four great national leaders who were murdered inside Dhaka Central Jail on November 03, 1975.

Additionally,  Munier Chowdhury's play, "Kobor" will be performed on Februrary 21, 2021, in all the prisons. Prison theatre and associated cultural activities in Bangladeshi prisons will be inaugurated in December. 

Prison Theatre is a unique field conceived under practical theatre, which can substantially help in the reformative process of the prison inmates positively, affecting their psychological health.

Participation in theatre productions, singing, poetry recitation, story-telling, and sports engagement can leave a significant positive impact and prepare them to return to a normal social life, after serving their prison term. It will help them to reorganise their personal and social life. It has often been seen through similar such programmes in other prisons abroad, that engagement through collaborative arts can assist a person in learning from the mistakes they committed.