Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Dhaka have signed an agreement to support the “Henrik Ibsen and Jon Fosse Festival in Bangladesh”, an initiative aimed at promoting Norwegian literature, culture, and creative expression among Bangladeshi audiences.
The agreement was signed recently at the Norwegian Embassy in Dhaka by the Norwegian Ambassador, Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen, and the IUB Vice-Chancellor, Prof M Tamim, read a press release.
The festival, tentatively scheduled for October 2026, serves as a lead-up to Ibsen’s bicentennial in 2028. The event will focus on the works of Henrik Ibsen, one of Norway’s most influential playwrights, and Jon Fosse, the Nobel Prize-winning Norwegian writer.
According to the agreement, the initiative seeks to increase awareness of their literary contributions, promote Norwegian cultural heritage and values, and encourage greater interest in Norwegian literature.
The festival is set to feature a variety of activities, including a keynote technical session and a theatre production.
This collaboration reflects a shared effort to create opportunities for cultural exchange through literature and performing arts, bringing the works and ideas of two globally recognised Norwegian literary figures to a wider audience in Bangladesh.
Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906) is regarded as one of the most influential playwrights in modern theatre, whose works explored social issues, individual freedom, and moral questions. His major plays include A Doll’s House, Ghosts, and Hedda Gabler. Jon Fosse is among the most prominent contemporary Norwegian writers, widely known for his plays, novels, poetry, and distinctive literary style.
