Poet Nirmulendu Goon recites a poem at the pprogramme on Tuesday at the Central Shaheed Minar. — Sony Ramany

Popular theatre troupe Aranyak Natya Dal observed May Day organising a daylong programme on Tuesday.
The morning session began on the Central Shaheed Minar premises where theatre personality and chief of the troupe Manumur Rashid, poet Nirmulendu Goon, intellectual- activist Badruddin Umar, general secretary of the Sammilito Sangskritik Jot Hasan Arif, among others delivered speeches at the programme.
Aranyak members presented music, dance and recitation highlighting the spirit of the May Day.
The main attraction of the event, however, was celebrated poet Nirmulendu Goon’s recitation of his self composed poem Nikapurer Mohaprayan. Eminent recitation artiste Shimul Mustafa presented Nirmulendu Goon’s timeless poem Proletariat in stentorian voice while Nishat Chowdhury recited another Goon’s poem Samajtantra Katodur.
Aranyak members also presented songs addressing the discrimination issue such as Porer dhon-e dhoni hoiya, Nidra tomar bhanga koro, Ki chamatkar dekha jay and Kalikaale lichu ganchhe aam.   Arif Hossain Apple, Mitali Das and Aminul Islam and others preformed in chorus.
Guest troupe Pracchanat presented theatre Garto, written and directed respectively by Keshan Chandra and Kazi Toufiqul Islam. The play depicted struggles of the wage earners despite their significant contribution towards the society.
Moreover, Aranyak artistes staged Aguner Daalpala, written and directed by Manunur Rashid and Shah Alam Dulal respectively, which demanded trial of war criminals.
In the evening, a discussion session titled Aranyaker Challish Bachhar—Sreni Sangram O May Dibash, was held at the academy.  Mamunur Rashid, New Age editor Nurul Kabir, Bangladesh Pathanatok Parishad president Mannan Heera and others discussed at the programme.
The discussion session was followed by staging of Rarang, written and directed by Mamunur Rashid. Portraying the murder of the real life character of Alfred Shoren, the play features struggles of the ethnic minorities in the country.
About May Day, Mamunur Rashid, told New Age, ‘Aranyak has been observing the day for the past 30 years since 1982. However, May Day is not observed with due importance in the country.’