A weeklong theatre festival, organised by the Sammilita Natya Parishad, Sylhet ended in the city last Wednesday. The annual event marked International Mother Language Day.

Sylhet Mayor Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran was present as the chief guest at the concluding function.

Sammilita Natya Parishad, Sylhet president Syed Monir Helal chaired the programme. Chief director Nizam Uddin Lashkar; general secretary Rajat Kanti Gupta and additional District Magistrate Shahidul Alam also spoke on the occasion.

At the function, three veteran activists were honoured for their contributions. They are: Professor Md. Abdul Aziz (education and Language Movement);

Chandrabati Roy Barman (folk songs) and Monir Ahmed (theatre).

Manipuri Theatre (from

Moulvibazar) staged "Debotar Grash” — an adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore's poem with the same tide. Suvashish Sinha directed the play in Manipuri language. The cast included Jyoti Sinha, Lakshman Sinha, Bhagyalakshmi Sinha, Smriti Sinha, Sunil Sinha, Shukla Sinha, Sushanta Sinha, Ujjal Sinha, Sunanda Sinha, Bithi Sinha and Papri Sinha.

Bangla Academy's director general Shamsuzzaman Khan formally inaugurated the festival, titled “Ekusher Chetonay Natyotshab-2012”, on February 23 evening at the Sylhet Auditorium.

On the first day, Theatre SUST staged “Bhashkorjo”, directed by Mehedi Hasan. Noboshikha Natya Dol staged Munier Chowdhury's "Kobor”, directed by Faridul Fardin on the second evening. Kothakoli, Sylhet presented “Court Marshal”, directed by Aminul Islam Liton and Protik Theatre staged “Nidhiram-er Swadhinata”, directed by Sunil Biswas.