With the aim of raising the country’s youth cum future generation as the cultural-minded force, ‘5th National Youth Festival’--organised by People’s Theatre Association (PTA), in association with Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA)-- kicked off on the premises of BSA at Segun Bagicha in the city. Beginning on Saturday, the activities of the eight-day festival are taking place at the National Theatre Hall, Experimental Theatre Hall and Music and Dance Centre of BSA, where a total of 31 college-universities and youth theatre troupes are participating till April 30. Honourary president of German Amateur Theatre Federation, Norbert Radarmakher, who is also the initiator of International Children Theatre Festival, inaugurated the festival as chief guest at the National Theatre Hall on Saturday. Cultural Affairs Secretary Begum Akhtari Momtaz, honourary president of ITI worldwide Ramendu Majumdar and PTA advisor SM Mohsin were present as special guests at the opening programme.  Presided over by BSA director general Liaquat Ali Lucky, PTA acting general secretary Kristi Hefaz delivered welcome speech and director of Theatre and Film Department Sara Ali Mahmud conveyed the vote of thanks at the programme.
As a part of the opening ceremony, a colourful rally was brought out that roamed around Segun Bagicha area. Besides, the event included acrobatic show, dance and song performance.
On the opening day of the festival, five plays were staged and four plays were brought to the stage yesterday on the second day.
Today’s plays are ‘Khoyab’ by Centre for Bangladesh Theatre, Dhaka; ‘De Chhut’ by Theatre Idea, Bogra; ‘Shakespeare Saptak’ by Department of Theatre and Performance Studies of Dhaka University and ‘Mulluk’ by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
To note, PTA has been conducting the children and youth theatre movement since last 26 years. At present, as many as 262 children and youth theatre organisations are enlisted with PTA. Beginning with organising the National Children Festival and Youth Festival from 1995, meanwhile PTA has successfully arranged four youth theatre festivals and 12 children festivals. In addition, besides strengthening the children theatre and youth theatre movement in the country, PTA is working actively to establish Bangladesh’s culture, especially children theatre to the international arena. PTA enlisted troupes took part in 85 international festivals in the different parts of the world, including in the countries like Germany, Japan, Cuba, Turkey and India.