Curtain falls on Ganga-Jamuna Cultural Festival
The ninth instalment of the Ganga-Jamuna Cultural Festival concluded in the evening at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) yesterday.
Abul Monsur, secretary of the cultural ministry, was the chief guest at the closing ceremony, while the programme was presided over by the convener of the festival, author Ghulam Kuddus.
Other guests who attended the programme were Dr Neepa Chaudhary, director, Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre; Debprashad Debnath, secretary, Bangladesh Centre of the International Theatre Institute; Akhtaruzzaman, member secretary, Ganga-Jamuna Cultural Festival Committee; Kamal Bayezid, secretary, Group Theatre Federation along with "Porshod" (committee) members, Mir Zahid Hasan, Ahmed Gias and Khorshedul Alam.
A minute of silence was observed in memory of eminent actor, academician and playwright Dr Enamul Haque; prominent playwright Prof Dr Afsar Ahmad of Drama and Dramatics Department at Jahangirnagar University, and Ekushey Padak winning renowned journalist, dramatist, and poet Rafiqul Haque, popularly known as "Dadubhai", among other cultural personalities who passed away during the pandemic.
"Amid the pandemic, the organisers have done an impressive job arranging this festival," said Abul Monsur. "We have discussed some issues of the cultural sector today, and I will try to bring about changes accordingly."
Highlighting the deprivation faced by the cultural sector, Debprasad Debnath said, "Since the cultural arena has always made great contributions in every revolution of the country, artistes deserve proper financial and technical assistance. We hope that the government will look into the matter seriously, and provide artistes with the necessary support."
Around 4,000 people have been working relentlessly over the last three months, for the 12-day festival, as mentioned by Kamal Bayezid.
On the closing day, "Ekti Loukik Othoba Aloukik Steamer" by Dhaka Theatre, "Informer" by Shobdo Natyochorcha Kendro and "Ebarer Shongram Muktir Shongram" by Joyjatra were staged.
This year's festival was dedicated to the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence.
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