Prangone Mor, a renowned theatre troupe of Bangladesh, organised the 11th edition of the theatre festival with the slogan 'Ami Banglay Bhalobashi, Ami Banglake Bhalobashi'.

Former State Minister for Cultural Affairs and renowned theatre activist Asaduzzaman Noor inaugurated the festival while State Minister of Cultural Affairs KM Khalid attended the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest.

Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Riva Ganguly Das and BSA Director General and Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation Chairman Liaquat Ali Lucky joined the inauguration ceremony as special guests with Founder and Director of Prangone Mor Ananta Hira in the chair.

In his speech, State Minister Khalid said theatre troupes like Prangone Mor are constantly upholding the pride of Bangladesh through these types of theatre festivals.

A total of nine plays -- three from India’s Kolkata, one from Delhi and five from Bangladesh -- are scheduled to be staged in this year’s festival.

The opening day was celebrated with Kolkata Praxis Theatre Group’s play ‘Art’, directed by actor-director Gautam Sarkar.

Apart from ‘Art’, the two other plays from Kolkata are- ‘Abritto’ by Nandipat Theatre Group which will be staged on December 7 and Rashikata Theater troupe’s ‘Jyanto Hamlet’ on December 10.
 
The festival will end with the staging of ‘Bismilla’ by Green Room Theatre, Delhi.

The performances of Bangladeshi troupes will start with host troupe Prangone Mor's 'Hassanjaner Raja' on December 8. Prachyanat will stage 'Pulsirat' on December 9 while Biborton Jashore ‘Koibarta-gatha’ on December 11, Arnyak ‘Moyur Shinghashon’ on December 12 and Loko Natyadal (Shiddheshwari)'s 'Amra Tinjon' is scheduled to be staged on December 13.

The festival also features a discussion event on December 13.

Besides, Mamunur Rashid’s wife Gauhar Ara Choudhury, Ataur Rahman’s wife Shahida Rahman and Liaquat Ali Lucky’s wife Kristy Hafez will be honoured on the same day at 6pm.