Muktakantha Abritti Academy, a recitation group, entered the cultural scene in 1984. 'I conducted a workshop at Biswa Shahitya Kendra. After finishing the workshop a few participants formed a recitation group named Shwareet. The other interested participants, proposed the formation of another group called Muktakantha,' says Kazi Arif, director of the organisation.

Muktakantha's first programme , Jal Pare Pata Nare was performed in December, 1984. The organisation offers a three-month course on recitation. After completion of the course, interested members join as regular group members.

So far 30 workshops have been conducted. 'Though we are a recitation group- we are more like a family,' maintains the director of the 250-member group.

A notable work of Muktakantha is Riday Pane Riday Tane. This was performed professionally, in exchange of tickets, which is unusual in the country.

'Muktakantha celebrated its 5th and 10th anniversaries.They also held programmes marking the hundredth anniversary of the noted poet Shukumar Roy. The introduction of the programme of Chaitra Shangkranti (The Eve of Bangla New

Year) is also a contribution of Muktakantha,' Arif said.

Muktakantha is working on a recitation programme titled Mother, to be staged in December. The script is written by Parna, a member of Muktakantha, and directed by Kazi Arif.

Muktakantha has a separate children's wing of 70 members ranging from 3 to 10 years. Pragna

Laboni is the director of the cell. 'This is the first recitation cell for the children in our country,' Pragna says. A programme is arranged every year at the Liberation War Museum she said.

'We chose Muktakantha as a medium of expressing our thoughts on social issues,' explained Arif. 'And we hope to present the correct form of Bangla to the next generation,' he added.