The event began with a chorus song by Jatiyo Rabindra Sangeet Sammilan Parishad's Dhaka Committee. The group of artistes rendered a Tagore song Bishwabeena robey. The discussion was presided over by educationist Professor Khan Sarwar Murshid. Ingebjorg Stofring, Royal Norwegian Ambassador to Bangladesh, was the chief guest of the programme. Eminent litterateur Selina Hossain delivered the welcome speech. Dr. Sonia Nishat Amin and Dr. Kajol Bandyopadhyaya also delivered speeches.

In her welcome speech Selina Hossain, who is also the Chairperson of BIS, briefed the aim of the organisation. She said that BIS is a common platform for Ibsen enthusiasts. "We intend to arrange seminars, publish books and stage shows on Ibsen's plays," said Hossain.

Dr. Sonia Nishat Amin shared her experience from her visit to Norway last year. She was part of a six-member delegation from Bangladesh that participated at the Ibsen centennial death anniversary programme in Oslo.

Dr. Kajol Bandyopadhyaya presented a paper on practice of Ibsen's plays in Bangladesh.

The Norwegian Ambassador said, "For Norway, it's a responsibility to promote Ibsen's work worldwide. The arrangement of Ibsen's centennial death anniversary in Bangladesh last year was comprehensive, compared to other countries around the world. University of Oslo has come to an agreement with two universities of Bangladesh, University of Dhaka and University of Khulna--- to provide scholarships for Bangladeshi students that will enable them to study Ibsen's work in Norway."

Khondokar Ashraf Hossain and Bhaswar Bandyopadhyaya recited Ibsen's poems. Khondokar Ashraf Hossain recited three poems -- Projapoti, Ghumparani and Pakhi o balok -- translated by him. Bhaswar Bandyopadhyaya recited Ontorhito, Judas and Barite amar jibon theke, translations of Ibsen's works by Manzoor-e-Maula.

Highlight of the programme was the staging of Resurrection by Centre for Asian Theatre. Written and directed by Kamaluddin Nilu, Resurrection is a biographical sketch on Henrik Ibsen.

The play analyses the contemporary global socio-political milieu through Ibsen's eyes. An imaginary world is created through the conversation between Ibsen with his wife Susan as well as the characters from his plays to feature the playwright's biography, philosophy and approach to art. Resurrection also brings to light, issues like freedom and gender inequality, dealt in a way Ibsen might have, if he were alive today. If Ibsen could write "I'm free! I'm free! I'm free! My life in hostage is over" a century ago, then what might he have said considering the current scenario, when 'freedom' has become nothing more than a buzzword.