Honouring Dinu Billah’s cultural legacy

A memorial programme commemorating writer, researcher, folk musician and freedom fighter Dinu Billah was held at the National Theatre Seminar Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka yesterday.

The programme was jointly organised by Dhaka Theatre and Anannya Prokashoni.

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Dinu Billah, a founding member of Dhaka Theatre, died last year in Canada.

The programme honoured his contributions to Bangladesh’s cultural and musical heritage and featured a discussion on his recently published book, “Milito Praaner Kolorob”, which explores the history of folk music in Bangladesh.

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Pparticipants join a discussion on his book “Milito Praaner Kolorob”. Photo: Abrar Faiyaz Niloy

Billah was associated with Dhaka Theatre from its formative period and worked in writing, research, and folk music. “Milito Praaner Kolorob”, his final publication, focuses on the historical development of folk music and reflects his research on the subject.

Artist and cultural figure Mofidul Haque; theatre director, actor and freedom fighter Mamunur Rashid; music researcher and teacher Saif Rana; and Billah’s life partner Mahbuba Khanam Kundu spoke at the event.

A folk music group also performed at the event.

Filmmaker and theatre director Nasiruddin Yousuff recalled a discussion about Dinu Billah, Altaf Mahmud and his generation. He said many of those associated with the Shaheed Altaf Mahmud School, theatre, film society and the broader cultural movement had since died.

“Only I am left,” he said.

Yousuff said Billah documented the lives, memories and experiences of those around him through his books.

“The people might have died, but Billah preserved an entire generation through his stories,” he said.