Senior journalist and dramatist Obayedul Haque inaugurated the celebration while litterateur Rabeya Khatun launched the 500-page memorial book containing research-based works on theatre in Bangladesh and Mamtazuddin Ahmad. A host of fans, eminent cultural and theatre activists attended the programme to greet their favourite actor-dramatist. They came in queue with floral bouquets to greet the septuagenarian. Amongst the guests on stage were Mamunur Rashid, President of Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation, educationist Mustafa Nurul Islam and Nasiruddin Yusuff, President of Shammilito Shanskritik Jote.

Mamunur Rashid said that it is unfortunate in our country that such celebrations are always organised by the concerned groups alone. 'But Mamtazuddin Ahmad does not belong to Theatre only, he is a pride for the whole nation and his birthday should have been celebrated by all the theatre groups,' he said.

Muntassir Mamun, who is also a direct student of Mamtazuddin, reminisced how Mamtazuddin Ahmad brought him into the cultural arena when he was his student. 'Sir introduced us in the radio at that time and we performed in several plays,' Muntassir said.

Among those who greeted Mamtazuddin were Rabindra Sangeet artiste Kalim Sharafi, film director Chashi Nazrul Islam, Mahila Samity's Laila Anjuman, Bangla Academy DG Mansur Musa, artist Rafiqunnabi, poets Rabiul Hussain, Belal Chowdhury, Nurul Huda and Kazi Rozi. Flower bouquets were given to Mamtazuddin on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition in the parliament Sheikh Hasina, and a group from the Daily Janakantha. The family members of language martyr Rafique also greeted him.

Theatre is one of the pioneer theatre groups of the country formed in the independent Bangladesh on February 7, 1972. Eminent educationist Kabir Chowdhury was the founding President of the newly formed group, with Abdullah Al Mamun, Bahar Chowdhury, Ramendu Majumdar, Tabibul Islam Babu, Nitun Kundu, Ferdousi Majumdar, Ariful Haque and a few others as the founding members. In the beginning, the group had two chief targets: to practice dramas regularly and honestly, and to publish a magazine on theatre.

Theatre staged its first production Kobor, a play by martyred intellectual Munier Chowdhury, on February 21, and brought out its publication in November the same year. The first ticket-show, however, took place yet later--in April '74 with the play Subachan Nirbashoney. In the following successful legacy, Theatre has staged about a thousand shows of more than twenty plays of which there are adaptations, translations as well as original ones.

Theatre's contribution to the theatrical culture in Bangladesh is immense. Theatre has presented works by Kazi Nazrul Islam on stage for the first time in Bangladesh. Another milestone in Theatre's history was 200th staging of an original play--Shatghater Kanakori, written and directed by Mamtazuddin Ahmad. The play had its 250th staging in the ongoing celebration yesterday.

The opening ceremony of the festival ended with a play--Shajaler Ma--written and directed by Mamtazuddin Ahmad. The festival will also hold another play of the veteran playwright named Dui Bon today.