Bari joined the theatre troupe Dhaka Padatik in 1989. In 1990, along with noted theatre activist SM Solaiman, Bari formed Anya Dal. Bari is one of the founder members of Theatre Art Unit (formed as Theatre Art in 1992) and has been with the group to date. Bari's credentials include Amena Shundori (acting and assisting SM Solaiman with direction), Swapno Dekho Manush (assistant director), reviving Court Martial (originally adapted and directed by SM Solaiman), Natya Collage (directing a collage of three plays by SM Solaiman), Trinoporney Shalmanjori and more.

Talking about the gradual change in the theatre scene, Bari says, "Each decade saw significant changes in our theatre. In the '70s, after the Liberation War, groundbreaking ideas were introduced. Theatre activists were charged and enthusiastic. We were thrilled by the feedback from the audience. Prior to '70s, we didn't have much of a theatre audience. I think the most notable achievement of this decade was the emergence of a thinking theatre audience.

"In the '80s, theatre basically played a strong political role in protesting against the tyranny of the then dictatorship. Other issues or themes were somewhat unobtrusive.

"The '90s saw major change. With the newly gained democracy, making a political statement was not theatre's major role any more. During this decade, we noticed playwrights and directors delving more into theatre as an art form, discovering and experimenting with different aspects of society.

"The current decade is proving to be promising, as talented young directors, playwrights and actors are emerging in the theatre scene."

Bari has dramatised and is the director of Shomoy-er Proyojoney (a story by Zahir Raihan). The play was first staged in 2005 and has received critical acclaim. About the play, Bari says, "The subject of the play is the Liberation War. The values and issues that triggered the war will never lose their relevance. The aspiration of the freedom fighters was to secure a secular and fair state but the reality is we have become sidetracked. We need more plays like Shomoy-er Proyojoney because this generation that has not seen the war, needs exposure to our history and by history I don't mean the distorted version that seems to exist."

About the response from the audience, Bari says, "The play has received a warm response from the audience. I was ecstatic when Nasiruddin Yousuff told me, 'It felt like I'm back at the camps', after watching the play. Audiences have provided insightful feedback and shown interest in the story and the war. We have staged 20 shows so far."

Bari's troupe has also staged a street play Khowar at the Central Shaheed Minar recently. He and his troupe hope to work on a new play soon. The theatre activist is becoming a busy actor in TV plays. So far he has worked in TV plays directed by Abul Hayat, Arun Chowdhury, Rezanur Rahman (to be aired on coming Eid) and SI Tutul. Bari has also directed a special TV play, written by Anisul Haq, to be aired on Victory Day.