Interactive Popular Theater (IPT)

The first condition of development is development of communication system. Communication system is not only about roads and cars, it is communication between people and society, through which people can understand all the advantages and disadvantages of their life, exchange opinions with each other and take any kind of measures. Apart from that, those who are conscious citizens of the society will play a role in increasing public awareness by using various communication media. IPT is one such powerful medium. Through which an effective communication is being developed between the people of every level of the society.

Do you feel love for the baby? I want a happy childhood free of obstacles. We will decorate the world with love for all children and not let a single child's life be endangered. It is with this conviction that the interactive popular theater exhibition is displayed in collaboration with UNICEF. With the support of UNICEF, in the past years, the theater groups of different districts have been performing thematic interactive popular theater shows in different parts of Bangladesh. For example last time one topic was care of children under 5 years old. A simple way to protect a child from various diseases from birth is highlighted through this play. This time their aim was to make the people of the slums aware about this.

When the IPT team entered the slum, the slum dwellers welcomed them. Rashida of Mirpur's slum came to watch the play with her daughter. she said that this kind of drama makes them happy as well as there are many things to know. Every person needs to know this drama about child care especially. It is better when the audience is asked for their opinion in the middle or at the end of the play. It seems that I am also one of this drama. Our lives are beautifully portrayed by people in the drama.

Rashid Mia is a hard working man of Mirpur Basti. His tea shop is in the slum. He saw this kind of drama for the first time in his life. He understood only TV dramas as dramas. After watching this play, his thoughts have changed a lot.

Halima Khatun lives in a slum in Mirpur with her husband and two sons. Everyone in the family is busy with some work. The hardships of child rearing come up in his description. One of his sons had terrible diarrheas'. He came back from the face of death with much difficulty. 10/12 years ago there were not so many facilities. This play has benefited them a lot. He wishes to have more and more IPT in the future.

Abdul Jabber, a rickshaw driver who lives in a slum in Mirpur. One of the two children is under five years of age. Came to watch the drama after listening to the announce by mike. Before this, he has seen dramas about many other issues. But this is the first time seeing such a beautiful presentation on baby care. Especially getting the drama information has been very beneficial for him. And decided to discuss these matters with his family and friends. But if this kind of drama is frequent then more people will have the opportunity to know.

Majid Lashkar, a resident of Mirpur's slums, was initially making negative comments about the play. At times he was making fun of the characters of the play and was annoying the other viewers. At one point, he himself was seen watching the play with deep attention and was the active one in the interaction after the play. He admits that he never thought it was so important. This is his first time to show drama. Majid is not married yet, but seeing this incident in the drama, he will be careful about the future. Abeda Khatun of this slum laments that a year ago, her granddaughter died soon after birth due to negligence. If they had known this information, maybe she would have lived. This drama is benefiting people a lot.

The audience spontaneously participates in the interaction phase in the middle or at the end of the play. Especially women are pioneers in this regard. Slum means living of low income people. Here is the refuge of people from various professions starting from rickshaw pullers, day laborers, hawkers, jhalmuriwalas. Every day of the week they have to work tirelessly from morning to night. Entertainment is also out of reach for these people. For them, IPT exhibition is a great entertainment. Again, it is through him that various small details of life are known. Especially for mothers and children. It is the responsibility of every person of the country to ensure the healthy, beautiful and happy life of the citizens of the country. I wish IPT every success in the future.