Glimpses of a lost civilisation

A play, based on the history of archaeological site Wari Bateswar was staged at Narsingdi on June 6 evening. The play, titled “Wari Bateswar” depicts the 2500-year old history of the site. Theatre and Film Department of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) produced the play to introduce these archaeological sites to the locals. Tanvir Ahmed Sydney and Samrat Pramanik has scripted and directed the play respectively.
The plot centres on the history of the villages Wari and Bateswar, now known as archaeological site Wari-Bateswar on the bank of Old Bhrahmaputra. According to archaeologists, Wari-Bateswar is the oldest civilisation in Bengal that was built 500 years before the birth of Christ. The site was discovered in 1933 and till date many important relics have been found in the site, that tell the history of the existence of the civilisation.
There are numerous historical places in Bangladesh. However, the majority of people are not aware of their significance. The goal of BSA is to bring forth the archaeological heritage of the country through staging plays at these sites.
Eminent writer Syed Shamsul Huq, noted directors Ataur Rahman, Nasiruddin Yousuff Bacchu along with local lawmakers were present at the inaugural ceremony of the play on Friday evening. Among others, BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky, and Director of BSA Theatre and Film Department, Sara Ara Mahmud addressed the programme.
The play that was fiction-based brought forth the history of this civilisation. A play on the same lines was staged last month at Somepur Bihar in Naogaon to raise awareness among local residents. BSA hopes to periodically stage such plays on all archaeological sites.