Diverse cultural events were held to mark International Workers’ Day at different venues in Dhaka on Friday.
Terracotta Creatives, Ganatantrik Sanskritik Oikya, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi, Aranyak Natyadal, BotTala and others paid tribute to the working class by organising various programs.
Terracotta Creatives organised an outdoor exhibition at Dhanmondi Lake, which displayed 92 artworks – including photography, painting, and digital art – depicting the life and struggles of formal and non-formal workers in the country.
Ganatantrik Sanskritik Oikya organised a cultural event and discussion at Satyen Sen Chattar, in front of Udichi’s central office on Topkhana Road.
Under the banner of Ganatantrik Sanskritik Oikya, several organisations including Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi, Bibartan Sangskritik Kendra, Ganasangskriti Kendra, Samhati Sangskriti Samsad, Samaj Anushilan Kendra, Bangladesh Ganashilpi Sangstha, Sangskritik Union, Raju Bitarka Angan, Charan Sangskritik Kendra, Samageet, Teerandaj, Bangladesh Theatre, Pragati Lekhak Sangha, Ranesh Dasgupta Chalachchitra Sangsad, Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani Parishad, and Shahid Asad Parishad performed at the program.
Theatre troupe Aranyak Natyadal organised a cultural show at the Central Shaheed Minar on the Dhaka University campus in the morning and staged its play titled Rarang at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the evening.
At the morning event, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad president Fouzia Moslem said that the labour market in Bangladesh is still not women-friendly, even though the women’s movements and the labour movements are closely linked.
‘A large portion of the workers in Bangladesh are women. People from all walks of life must stand by the workers to achieve the rights of these women,’ she said.
Theatre activist Mamunur Rashid added that the world is becoming increasing ravaged by violence.
‘A large part of the world, including the Middle East, is now being crushed by war, and the whole world is suffering from the consequences,’ he said, hoping that this May Day would be a pledge for a peaceful and equal world free of war.
Theatre troupe BotTala staged two shows of its same production titled Bonnotherium at the Nilima Ibrahim Auditorium of Bangladesh Mahila Samity on Bailey Road.
Besides, Chittagong-based theatre troupe Sketch Gallery Nandan staged two shows of its street theatre production titled Guptabidya at Amtala and Cheragi Pahar in the city.
