3-day ‘Natyacharya Selim Al Deen Jonmotsob’

Theatre troupe Swapnadal is organising a three-day festival, “Natyacharya Selim Al Deen Jonmotsob 2026”, to mark the 77th birth anniversary of eminent Bengali playwright and theatre personality Selim Al Deen.

The festival will begin today at Jahangirnagar University and continue at the Studio Theatre of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on 20 and 21 August. 

 According to the organisers, the opening programme will begin at 10am at Jahangirnagar University with a memorial procession from the old Kola Bhaban to Selim Al Deen’s grave, followed by a floral tribute at his tomb. The Shilpakala Chattar will also be decorated with the playwright’s portrait.

The festival will feature discussions on Selim Al Deen’s life, work and theatrical philosophy. The last two days will feature four performances of Swapnadal’s acclaimed productions “Chitrangada” and “Hargaj”, both directed by Selim Al Deen’s student Zahid Ripon. 

On Thursday, the 124th and 125th performances of Rabindranath Tagore’s poetic drama “Chitrangada” will be staged at the Studio Theatre of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy at 5:30pm and 7:30pm.

On the closing day, Friday, the 52nd and 53rd performances of Selim Al Deen’s “Hargaj” will be held at the same venue at 5:30pm and 7:30pm.

The 34th edition of Swapnadal’s regular festival, organised in memory of Selim Al Deen’s birth and death anniversaries, carries the slogan: “Bangla Natya Rath marching ahead in tradition, Rabindranath-Selim Al Deen finds the path of perfection.”

Selim Al Deen, one of the most influential dramatists and playwrights in the Bengali language, was born on 18 August 1949, and died on 14 January 2008.