Theater artists will perform street theater as a protest at BSA

Today, two theater groups will perform street plays at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), advocating for the safety of theater artists. This protest is in response to the cancellation of the play “Nityapurana” on November 2, as well as the subsequent attack on famous stage actor Mamunur Rashid during a demonstration led by activists of the Bangladesh Group Theater Federation (BGTF).

The performances will take place at 4 p.m. at the entrance of the National Theater Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA). Theater groups Aranyak Natyadal and Prachyanat will present their street theater performances during the event.

The slogan “Natok Moder Odhikar, Rukbe Natok Shadho Kar” (It is our right to perform plays – who has the power to stop theater?) is the central theme of today’s street plays. The plays that will be performed include “Murkho Lokher Murkho Kotha” by Aranyak Natyadal and “Speak Out” by Prachyanat. Besides this, Aranyak Natyadal will also present songs from their play.

Speaking about the event today, Shamima Shawkat Lovely, Acting Chief Secretary of Aranyak Natyadal said: “We are both outraged and saddened by the shameful incident that took place in the theater community, with actions such as stopping a performance during a demonstration and attacking the protest rally of the activists. .”

“The state and its institutions have failed to ensure the safety of theater artists, preventing groups from performing freely. The theater must continue. If the state fails to provide protection, theater workers will take their own measures. If performances are blocked, they will Today’s street theater exhibition is organized from this point of view as an act of protest,” she further shared.

She has called on theater artists from across the country to attend the exhibition, enjoy the plays, join the protest while ensuring their own safety as theater workers.

Earlier, on November 2, an unexpected disruption at the National Theater Hall of Shilpakala Academy (BSA) in Bangladesh led to the sudden cancellation of the play “Nityapurana”.

In response, activists from the Bangladesh Group Theater Federation held a demonstration on November 8. During the event, while playwright Mamunur Rashid was delivering a speech to the audience, unidentified individuals threw eggs at him and escaped when theater activists tried to capture them.

Aranyak Natyadal canceled the scheduled performance of the play “Company” the next day (November 9) to protest the attack. As an extension of this protest, the street play exhibition was organized today to further express their differing opinions.