Waheedul Haq Memorial Festival begins in the capital

With the theme “Tomatey Royechhe Shokol Dhormo, Shokol Jugabotar”, a two-day (March 11-12) Waheedul Haq Memorial Festival began yesterday at Shawkat Osman Memorial Auditorium of Central Public Library, Dhaka. Journalist Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, information adviser to the Prime Minister, inaugurated the festival as chief guest. 

Golam Kuddus, President of Sammilito Sangskritik Jote; Poet Habibullah Shirajee; elocutionist Ahkam Ullah; theatre personalities Jhuna Chowdhury and Mannan Hira and ganosangeet artiste Fakir Alamgir were among others to attend the opening day's programme as special guests. Ahmadul Hasan Hasanur, president of Kanthosheelan (the organiser of the festival) presided over the programme.  

The guests spoke on Waheedul Haq's lifelong contributions to diffusing the core of Bangladeshi culture among the masses. Later, a colourful rally circled several streets of Dhaka University Campus. 

The opening day's proceedings featured students' reminiscence on the cultural icon, discussion, performance of music and solo and group recitation. Manchasarathi Ataur Rahman elaborated the life and works of Waheedul Haq while artistes of Udichi performed a choral song. The highlight of the event was the performance of the recitation production “Chand Boniker Pala” written and directed by Shambhu Mitra and Golam Sarwar respectively. 

Artistes of Swarshruti and Swarkalpan presented group recitations while several elocutionists including Kazi Madina, Kazi Arif, Laila Afroz, Hasan Arif, Mahidul Islam and Rafiqul Islam recited poems at the event. Today's programme will start at 10am at the same venue.          

Waheedul Haque was a major organiser of the Tagore birth centennial celebration in 1961. The same year he founded Chhayanaut, now one of the leading cultural organisations in Bangladesh. He was also a founder member of other renowned cultural organisations including Rabindra Sangeet Sammelan Parishad, Kanthosheelan, Anandadhoni and more.