4th Int’l Theatre Festival begins at JKKNIU

The seven-day 4th International Theatre Festival 2026 began at Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University (JKKNIU) in Mymensingh on Sunday, organised by the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies.

The festival was inaugurated at the department premises in the New Arts Building.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mohammad Musharof Hossain attended the opening ceremony as the chief guest, while Prof. Dr. Md. Israfil, Vice-Chancellor of Thakurgaon University, formally inaugurated the event. Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Musharof Hossain said veteran theatre personality Abul Hayat has made outstanding contributions to Bangladeshi theatre and continues to inspire younger generations.

He expressed hope that students of the department would carry forward his legacy through their creative work.

The university honoured Abul Hayat with the “Natyajan Sammanona” (Theatre Personality Award) in recognition of his lifetime contribution to theatre.

Receiving the award, Abul Hayat thanked the university, saying such recognition not only acknowledges one’s work but also strengthens the responsibility to continue serving the country’s cultural arena.

Among others, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Emdadul Huda, Dean of the Faculty of Arts; Prof. Dr. Arif Haydar of Rajshahi University; and Prof. Dr. Ismat Ara Bhuiyan Ila, Chair of the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies, attended the programme.

The festival will continue until July 18, with one play to be staged every evening at 7:00 pm at the department’s Zia Haider Lab. A total of seven productions will be performed as part of the master’s final examination for the department’s 2023-24 academic session.