This April 11 marks the 94th birth anniversary of late eminent educationist, Language Movement veteran, lifetime chairman of Padatik Natya Sangsad and Ekushey Padak winner Syed Badruddin Hossain. On the occasion of celebrating the veteran’s birth anniversary, like the previous years, Padatik Natya Sangsad—one of the most vibrant theatre troupes in the country—has organised a seven-day theatre festival at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) at Segun Bagicha in the capital. DhakaLive has news that the festival titled ‘Syed Badruddin Hossain Smriti Natyotsab and Smarok Sommanona’ will kick off today and will continue till April 11. Each day, two plays will be staged at 7:15pm at the National Theatre Hall and Experimental Theatre Hall of BSA simultaneously.
A number of prominent theatre troupes from Bangladesh and India are participating in the festival. The participating troupes are the host Padatik Natya Sangsad, Prachyanat, Curtain Call (India), Aranyak Natyadal, Nagorik Natyangon, BotTala, Annesha Theatre (Mymensingh), Theatre Art Unit, Batighar and  Mohakal Natya Sampraday.Today, on the opening day, two popular theatre troupes will stage their much-acclaimed plays. Prachyanat will stage their play ‘Koinna’ today at the National Theatre Hall, while BotTala will stage their new play ‘Crutcher Colonel’, an adaptation of eminent novelist Shahaduzzaman’s novel of the same title ‘Crutcher Colonel’, at the Experimental Theatre Hall.
‘Koinna’ (The Maiden) is the third play produced by the group. Scripted by Murad Khan and directed by Azad Abul Kalam, the play has been based on a local myth of north-western part of Bangladesh, and traces the mystery and imaginative creation that operates at the subconscious level of men.
On the other hand, directed by Mohammad Ali Haider and dramatised by Soumya Sarkar and Samina Luthfa Nitra, ‘Crutch-er Colonel’ is the 9th production of BotTala.

Where: BSA, Segun Bagicha
When: 7:15pm, today