Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) has opened a Facebook page titled 'Rab Cyber News Verification Centre' to make people aware of false news and rumour spread during the upcoming general election.

Director General (DG) of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) Benazir Ahmed revealed it at a press conference regarding the elite force's preparation for the 11th parliamentary election at its media center in Dhaka's Karwan Bazar today.

If anyone becomes confused about any news, he/she will have to share it on the Facebook page and the Rab team will instantly reply it after verifying the truth, said the Rab DG.

Rab officials will work round the clock, he added.

He also said the Facebook page will remain open to counter all lies, rumours and false news centering the election slated for December 30.

A total of 10,000 Rab members have been deployed across the country ahead of the election, said the Rab DG.

"If anyone dares to carry out violence in any place, we will obstruct them and the force is ready to resist them," he added.

Two army helicopters will remain standby on the election day, he said adding, "A special force will be kept standby for travelling to any part of the country if needed."

Benazir also requested all to inform them any kind of violent incidents so that they can take instant action.

This has been a good year for the pioneering theatre troupe Prachyanat, with houseful shows of more than 10 of its most popular plays, such as "Agunjatra", "Achalayatan", "Kinu Kahar er Thetar", "Pulsiraat", "Khawabnama", "Circus Circus", "A Mother in Mannville" amongst others.

The popular theatre troupe is going to conclude a glorious year with one of its initial plays, eminent thespian Azad Abul Kalam directorial "Koinna", being staged at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Wednesday (December 13) at 7 PM.

Azad Abul Kalam, Artistic Director of Prachyanat, said, "2023 has been a significant year for Prachyanat. This year, we staged a new play, 'Achalayatan', along with our regular plays. All of them were greatly appreciated by the audience."

"Prachyanat, as an organization, has also worked on a variety of social and human rights issues this year. With our usual activities and performances, we also organized a performance titled 'The Gaza Monologues' in solidarity with the persecuted people of Palestine," said the eminent cultural personality.

This is the second show of "Koinna" this year. The renowned play premiered on February 13, 2001, and has been mesmerising theatre audiences since then with its masterful storyline, mystic roots, and brilliant theatrics.

Murad Khan wrote the drama about the naïveté of the Sylhet-Sunamganj Haor area.

In the story of this intricate drama, the people of Kalaruka village believe that Koinna Peer has watched over them since the entity passed over the area ages ago. Yet they hold onto the belief. In the distant past, a spiritual person named Koinna Peer came to Kalaruka village, mesmerizing its inhabitants with his divinity. 

However, as the play progresses, Koinna Peer vanishes from the village, leaving his companion, Bohurupi, to transform into a fish in a nearby pond. Naior and Delbar Ali, two brothers who are the custodians of Koinna Peer's legacy, lead the villagers to follow Koinna Peer's ideology. Naior pursues the path of self-discovery through his conversations with Bohurupi. Mesab, a friend of Delbar Ali's, encourages Delbar to marry to cure his impotence. Thus, Delbar's newlywed bride, Koinna, enters Kalaruka, bringing her unique narrative, leading to the play's climax.

Seeking companionship, Koinna spiritually connects with Bohurupi and Naior Ali. Meanwhile, religious leader Shahebzada, challenges Naior's methods and tries to dominate Kalaruka village. In the climax, Koinna's sudden pregnancy sparks a conflict. Seeking inner peace, Naior Ali chooses to follow Koinna Peer's path and sacrifices himself, while Shahebzada aims for supremacy and leadership in the village. Meanwhile, Koinna seeks companionship from Bohurupi and forms a spiritual bond with her unborn child, anticipating a bright future.

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Various characters of the play are portrayed by Azad Abul Kalam, Kazi Toufikul Islam Emon, Rahul Ananda, Shakhawat Hossain Rezvi, Shatabdi Wadud, Jahangir Alam, Tapan Mazumder, Sahana Rahman Sumi, Shahed Ali, Reetu Sattar, Saiful Islam Jarnal, Mitul Rahman, Md. Rafique, Tanji Kun, Shahriar Ferdous Shazeeb, Bilkis Jahan Jaba, Rontik Bipu, amongst others. Shaiful Islam planned the staging and lighting of the play, while Rahul Ananda planned the music.