Guests at the inaugural ceremony of National Rabindra Festival at Zainul Gallary on Friday.

National Rabindra Festival, celebrating the 151st birth anniversary of Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore, began on Friday by holding programmes at two venues simultaneously in the capital.
Cultural organisation Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Shilpy Sangstha organised the five-day festival at Zainul Gallary of the Department of Fine Arts of the University of Dhaka and Sawkat Osman Auditorium of central Public Library.
The festival is dedicated in memory of Tagore singers Mridul Kanti Chattapadhyay and Ajit Ray.  
A photography exhibition by photographer MA Taher featuring prominent Tagore singer late Kalim Sharafi was inaugurated at Zainul Gallary on Friday morning by deputy leader of the Jatiya Sangsad, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, as the chief guest. Poet Belal Chowdhury, educationist Abdullah Abu Sayeed and artist Hashem Khan were also present at the ceremony as special guests.  The exhibition includes 57 rare photographs that capture different moments of life and work of the great singer.     
Besides, a cultural programme, which included poem recitation and presentation of some timeless songs of Rabindranath Tagore, was held at the Sawkat Osman Auditorium in the afternoon. At the programme, seasoned Tagore researcher from Chittagong Sree Arun Das Gupta was bestowed this year’s of Kalim Sharafi Award.
A musical album titled Pothe Dekechile Morey which consists of twenty unpublished songs by Kalim Sharafi was also launched at the ceremony.  
The festival also includes staging of theatres by different theatre troupes across the country. Tirjak Natyadal from Chattagang will stage Bisarjan on Sunday while Bulbul Lalitakala Academy will present Mayar Khala on Monday at the auditorium.   
This year’s festival is the 23rd edition of Rabindra Festival organised by Rabindra Sangeet Shilpy Sangstha.  About the festival, Tapan Chowdhury, noted Tagore singer and president of the Sangstha, told New Age, ‘This year’s festival is little different than previous years’ as this year we are paying tribute to the founder of the Shilpy Sangstha Kalim Sharafi.’