DHAKA, Jan 19, 2021 (BSS) – Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud
has said it was most important to enhance cultural activities to keep
away the new generation from militancy and terrorism.
“It will be easier to promote creative thinking of new generation
by preserving own culture and freeing them from the grip of satellite
culture. I would like to urge the country’s artistes to take plan in
this regard,” he told the 87th birth anniversary of eminent artiste
Mamtajuddin Ahmed at Shilpakala Academy on Monday night.
Paying rich tribute to Mamtajuddin, the minister said there were
many stage dramas in eighties and nineties. There were also many
street drams during the anti-autocracy movement, he said, adding that
now-a-days it does not happen.
It is needed to bring back those good days of stage drama, said
Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
Recalling his old days when he used to wander in the field of
theatre arena, the minister said he was a member of ‘Tiryak Nattyadal’
and ‘Jathra Dal’ in Chattogram.
He called for holding competition and to arrange stage drama for 10
days at district level to promote the cultural event. He also informed
that he would initiative to air stage drama from Bangladesh Television
(BTV) from Dhaka and Chattogram centers.
“There are about 6,000 cinema halls in America though there are OTT
platforms and social media. There are about 8,000 cinema halls in
India. There are also many theaters in Europe where a number of people
visit daily and see the drama buying tickets,” he added.
He said there is no reason to think that stage drama will be lost
due to satellite culture or electronic media. If that happened, then
all theaters would have closed in the country, he added.
AL Advisory council member Ataur Rahman, Rabindra University vice
chancellor Professor Biswajit Ghose, Bangladesh Shishu Academy
chairman Lucky Inam, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote president Golam
Quddus, Nattyogosti Theatre president Dr Nilufar Banu, general
secretary Ashok Ray Nandi, former general secretaries Pradip Banik and
Rezaul Ekram Raju, among others, addressed the programme with
Shilpakala Academy director general and Bangladesh Group Theatre
Federation Chairman Liakat Ali Lucky in the chair.
Munira Yousuf Mamy and Ziaul Hasan Kislu recited poems. Later, a
drama ‘Folafol Nimnochap’ was screened.