Benuka Lalitkala Kendra marked its 46th founding anniversary and Nazrul Year 2026 with a cultural programme at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka on 3 October, the organisation said in a press release.
Held under the slogan, “Practising indigenous culture is essential for the growth of a healthy culture”, the programme began at 6:20pm with “Jagaran”, a dance based on poems and songs by national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and conceived by Benuka founder Golam Mostafa Khan, an Ekushey Padak and Shilpakala Padak recipient.
The programme, titled “Benuka’s Melody in the Light of Heritage”, also featured a reading of “Our Words” by Benuka’s principal and general secretary, reflecting on the organisation’s achievements, shortcomings, current position and future plans over its 46-year journey.
The organisation also called on the government, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and others to pay greater attention to mainstream organisations working to promote indigenous culture.
Noted Nazrul Sangeet artiste Salahuddin Ahmed was presented with the Benuka Honour 2026 during the programme.
Maj Gen (retd) Sadiq Hasan Rumi, president of Benuka’s advisory council, chaired the event.
Benuka’s young students, artistes and instructors then presented a series of performances featuring music, dance and poetry.
A song-and-dance presentation dedicated to the centenary of Kazi Nazrul Islam’s “Kandari Hushiar” was among the performances, while works from different phases of Nazrul’s creative career were presented through songs, dances and recitations.
Children performed Nazrul’s poem “Lichu Chor”, while young students presented Rabindranath Tagore’s “O Jonaki, Ki Sukhe Oi Dana Duti Melechho” through song and dance.
Students from Benuka’s guitar department also performed at the event.
The programme concluded with excerpts from “Benukar Sur”, a musical dance drama conceived and directed by Golam Mostafa Khan in 1983 using songs and poems from the romantic phase of Nazrul’s works.
The 43-year-old production was revived using its original musical framework.
The organisers said the stage management and performances reflected discipline, attention to detail and planning, while seeking to show how Bangladesh’s indigenous culture can be presented in an engaging way and the role longstanding institutions such as Benuka can play in preserving and promoting cultural heritage.
