A troupe presents people’s songs at the May Day observation programme organied by Ganasangeet Sammanoy Parishad on Monday at the Central Public Library. –New Age photo

Several organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes to mark the May Day today featuring discussions, seminars and cultural programmes.
Like the previous years, leading theatre troupe Aranyak Natya Dal has chalked out a day-long programme to observe the day, which will begin this morning on the Central Shaheed Minar premises. Intellectual-activist Badruddin Umar will attend the discussion session as chief guest.
Followed by the discussion, Aranyak members will present music, dance and recitation highlighting the spirit of the May Day.
The afternoon programme features a seminar at the Experimental Theater Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in which economist Anu Mohammad, New Age editor Nurul Kabir, general secretary of Shammilito Sanskritik Jot Hasan Arif, among others are scheduled discussants.
Aranyak Natya Dal will also stage its popular production Raarang, written and directed by Mamunur Rashid, at the same venue in the evening. 
Through the murder of a Santal leader named Alfred Shoren, Raarang features the ongoing oppression on the ethnic minority groups by the dominating Bangali community.
Moreover, cultural organisation Sroat has organised a concert at the TSC of Dhaka University. An open air concert will be held at Fantasy Kingdom organised in the afternoon.
Earlier on Monday Ganasangeet Sammanoy Parishad organised a programme featuring discussion, music and recitation at the Central Public Library. Cultural personality Kamal Lohanai as chief guest inaugurated the programme titled May Dibash O Ganasangeet Anushthan. Shammilito Shanskritik Jot vice president Golam Kuddus, general secretary of SSJ Hasan Arif, secretary general of Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation Jhuna Chowdhury, among others delivered speeches at the programme.
Followed by the discussion, artistes of leading cultural organisations including Wrishijo Shilpigasthi, Udichi, Kranti Shilpigasthi, Banhishikha and others presented peoples’ songs highlighting the labour rights.
Artistes of Kranti Shilpigasthi presented Jhar utechhe and Natun diner in chorus. Satyen Sen Shilpigasthi presented people’s song Maro joan heywo. Wrishijo Shilpigasthi presented Buk bedhey dara dekhi and Chicagor oi hey, both based on May Day. Udichi artistes in chorus rendered Karkhanatekhetkhamare and O duniyar Majdur bhai sab.
Rajina Wali Rima recited Sukanto Bhattacharya’s poem Bodhon.