The second season of ‘National Dance Drama Festival’ has begun yesterday on the premises of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital’s Segun Bagicha area. Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, along with BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky, Cultural Affairs Secretary Begum Akhtari Momtaz and president of ITI (Bangladesh) Nasir Uddin Yusuf, inaugurated the eight-day festival at the National Theatre Hall of BSA yesterday.
After the inauguration, the festival began with the staging of dance drama ‘Nakshi Kanthar Math’. Directed by Farhana Chowdhury Baby, Bangladesh Academy of Fine Arts brought the production to the stage on the opening day.
As a part of the festival, today  Bogra-based cultural organisation Amra Kojon Shilpi Goshthi will stage the dance-drama ‘Baramkhana’ directed by Abdus Samad Polash today at the 6:30pm, while Dhaka-based troupe Nrityalok will stage ‘Shyama’ directed by Kobirul Islam Roton at 7:30pm.
The festival will also feature a number of productions like ‘Kaal Mrigaya’, ‘Kobor’, ‘Mohajoner Nao’, ‘Shap Mochon’, ‘Ichha Motir Bake’, ‘Bhanusingher Padabali’, ‘Sonai Madhab’, ‘Amar Swadesh Amar Bhalobasa’, ‘Chitrangada’, ‘Mohua’, ‘Prasanga 47’ and Rokto Lal Ohonkar’ throughout the week.
Organised by Bangladesh Nrityashilpi Sangstha, in association with Cultural Ministry and BSA, the festival has been scheduled to take place at the National Theatre Hall of BSA. The festival will be featuring two dance dramas every day, which will run till November 22.
On November 22, the closing ceremony of the ‘National Dance Drama Festival’ will take place at the same venue. Presided over by Nrityashilpi Sangstha president Minu Haque, Honourary President of Bangladesh Centre of International Theatre Institute (ITI) Ramendu Majumdar, Sammilito Sangskritik Jote President Golam Kuddus and theatre personality Laila Hasan will attend the event.