Generating awareness against war criminals through theatre

A scene from “Purono Pret”.

A three-day theatre festival to generate awareness against war criminals was held in Kurigram recently.
Three theatre groups participated in the festival: Dishari Shangskritik Gosthi of Kurigram Sadar, Shacheton Nagorik Committee Theatre Group (a part of TIB) of Kurigram and Natya Kendra of Rangpur.
The festival was inaugurated by Mohammad Zafar Ali MP at Kanthalbari Degree College premises. Freedom fighter Aminul Islam Mondal and general secretary of local Shilpakala Academy Rasheduzzaman Babu were special guests at the inaugural function. Among others, president of Kurigram Press Club Shafi Khan and director of the NGO Jibika, Manik Chawdhury spoke on the occasion. President of Dishari Shangskritik Gosthi Abdul Khaleq Faruk was in the chair. Dishari Shangskritik Gosthi organised the festival, which stressed on the need for trail of war criminals.
On the opening day (April 26) Dishari staged the play, “Golam-er Darbar” written by Abdul Khaleq Faruk. The play narrated the rise of a war criminal who had acted against the nation and freedom fighters in 1971. The nefarious character starts plotting against the country and the play shows the antagonist meeting a just end.
The next day, Shacheton Nagorik Committee Theatre Group staged the play “Purono Pret” written by Yousuf Alamgir. This play highlighted anti-Liberation War forces distorting the real history of the nation's struggles for independence.
On the last day, Natya Kendra (Rangpur) staged the play “Meraj Fakir-er Ma” written by the late Abdullah Al Mamun.
A discussion and cultural function were held at the closing session.