For 34 years, the BGTF has been hosting this festival in honour of the language martyrs at the Central Shaheed Minar premises. This year, the festival will take place across 21 zones in eight divisions, including the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka.
Theatre and cultural activist Saiful Islam Mahmud no more
Photo: Collected
Arts & Entertainment Desk
Arts & Entertainment Desk
Theatre and cultural activist Saiful Islam Mahmud passed away last night. Renowned thespian Nasiruddin Yousuff Bachchu confirmed the news to The Daily Star.
Mahmud, a freedom fighter, was the younger brother of noted actor Raisul Islam Asad. He participated in the anti-authoritarian movement in Bangladesh, alongside other cultural activists. He served as a founding member of Dhaka Theatre, Bangladesh Gram Theatre, and Cholochitro Sangshad Cine Art Circle. He was also an active member of Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation and Bangladesh Pothonatok Parishad, among other organisations.
Noted playwright Mannan Hira passes away
Renowned playwright and a legendary figure of the country’s street theatre practice Mannan Hira died of cardiac arrest at a city hospital on Wednesday night.
He breathed his last around 8:30pm at Dhaka’s Islami Bank Hospital.
Bangladesh Pothonatok Parishad general secretary Ahammed Gias confirmed the matter.According to his close aides, Hira had been suffering from cardiac related complications for years. Earlier, he was admitted to hospitals for several times and recovered.
He was doing well in the recent months but he suddenly fell ill on Wednesday night in his Malibagh residence. Immediately he was taken to the hospital where doctors declared him dead.