Theatre troupe Nagorik Natya Sampradaya is participating at the 21st Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre, beginning at the Egyptian capital today.

To participate at the festival, a 17-member team led by Ataur Rahman (general secretary of Nagorik) left Dhaka yesterday. Humayun Kabir Khan, joint secretary. Ministry of Cultural .Affairs is the deputy team leader. Other members of the team are Aupi Karim. Shireen Bakul, Lufur Rahman George, Gazi Rakayet Hossain, Md Nasimul Haque Ripon, Md Khaled Anwar, Md Abdur Rashid. Rajib Dey, Kazi Anisul Haque Borun, Muhtasim Billah. Fakruzzaman Chowdhury, Md Nasirul Haque (light designer) and Md Shaiful Islam (set designer).

A press conference on the team's programme was held at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) on October 8. Kamal Lohani, director general, BSA. presided over the session. Among others Ataur Rahman

and Humayun Kabir Khan were also present at the conference.

Speaking at the conference, Ataur Rahman said, "’Rakto Karobi' has had 88 successful shows so far and now the production is representing Bangladesh at a major international event. This is truly a reason to celebrate."

"We are very optimistic that the play will attain a good response and make Bangladesh proud at the festival," Rahman hoped.

Nagorik was founded in 1968 and so far the group has staged 1470 shows of 40 plays.

Written by Rabindranath A scene from "Rakto Karobi”.

Tagore and directed Ataur Rahman, ' Rakto Karobi” is a symbolic play that addresses an agrarian nation obsessed with industrialisation.

The theatre festival in Cairo will continue till October 20.