A poignant solo performance depicting the tumultuous life and tragic death of a Rohingya woman is scheduled for today at the Riddhi Gallery Auditorium in Mirpur, signaling a significant shift in the theatre landscape of Dhaka.
Presented by the Charanik theatre troupe, the production titled “Ishwar Tumi Kothay” is both written and directed by Jewel Kabir. The play, running for one hour and ten minutes, stars Safia Khandakar Rekha in a powerful solo role and commences at 7pm on September 26. This performance marks the fifteenth staging of the play, having been previously showcased 14 times at various locations.
The Riddhi Gallery, a newly established venue, aims to democratize access to live theatre in localities like Mirpur, Uttara, and Mohammadpur, which are often distanced from the cultural epicenters of Bailey Road and Shilpakala Academy. Representatives of the venue emphasize their commitment to providing a platform for local artists and featuring noteworthy productions regularly.
“Ishwar Tumi Kothay” narrates the tumultuous journey of Tasmida Johar, a Rohingya Muslim woman. From enduring harrowing experiences of sexual violence in her teenage years at the hands of Myanmar soldiers to escaping to a refugee camp in Bangladesh via the Naf River, her story is one of continuous hardship. She faces further exploitation, betrayal by a lover who sells her to traffickers, multiple displacements—from Bangladesh to India with assistance from UNHCR, involvement in trafficking networks, and ultimately boarding a merchant vessel bound for Europe. The narrative tragically concludes with her demise in the mid-Atlantic.
The play, though stark, boldly addresses the intersections of gender-based violence, forced migration, and human trafficking. Organizers aim to compel audiences to confront the human toll of global displacement through this production.
The creative team behind the play includes Junaid Yusuf (stage and lighting), Tanmoy (makeup), Rumi Islam (choreography), Andalib Mostafa Lalon (music and voice), Robi Ghosh (background score), Trishna Roy and Atanu Sohag (props), Ribbon Khandaker (costume), Bimbita Bibhavari Anusrita (poster design), with backstage assistance from Robin Sujon, Manju Shikha Sen Gupta, Tushar Chandan, Ashiqur Rahman Chowdhury, Mumu Mahinur, Rituraj, and Akash. Mohammad Rezaul Karim Reza serves as the producer-manager for the production.
By choosing to stage the play in Mirpur, the organizers aim to extend socially conscious theatre to audiences beyond the conventional venues in Dhaka.