The suffering of refugees during the Liberation War, the impact of the conflict and the resulting humanitarian crisis came alive through the musical theatre production ‘Jessore Road’.
Based on American poet Allen Ginsberg’s renowned poem ‘September on Jessore Road’, the production was staged by Narsingdi-based theatre troupe Bandhonhara at Chhayanaut auditorium in Dhanmondi on 2 October. The event was organised by the 27 Dhanmondi Gai Banglar Gaan Parishad.
The programme focused on the lives and hardships of people who fled the country during the Liberation War and crossed the border as refugees. It began with an introductory session and welcome address by Fazlul Kabir Tuhin of the organising body.
Tuhin said that although the then US government opposed Bangladesh’s independence in 1971, the American people stood by Bangladesh. He cited Ginsberg’s ‘Jessore Road’ and the Concert for Bangladesh at Madison Square Garden as examples. He thanked Bandhonhara for staging the production.
Freedom fighters Razzakul Haider Chowdhury and Satyajit Majumdar shared their first-hand experiences and memories of refugee camps. Liberation War Museum trustee Dr Sarwar Ali and former DUCSU general secretary Mahbub Zaman also spoke at the event.
Belayet Hossain recited the English version of Ginsberg’s ‘September on Jessore Road’, followed by a Bengali translation recited by Regina Wali Lina. Abida Sultana Setu performed ‘O Amar Desher Mati’, while an invited singer presented ‘Dhan Dhanya Pushpa Bhara’.
After the interval, the evening’s main attraction, the 35-minute musical production ‘Jessore Road’, was staged under the direction of Kamruzzaman Tapu.
The 90-minute programme combined discussions, personal recollections, poetry, patriotic songs and musical theatre to portray the pain and humanitarian reality of refugee life during the Liberation War.
The organisers said the event aimed to present the history of the Liberation War to a new generation through poetry, music and theatre, going beyond formal commemorations.
