The 4th South Asian Universities Youth Festival, popularly known as SAUFEST, was hosted by Panjab University in Chandigarh, India. A total of 29 teams representing universities from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka took

part in this prestigious cultural event involving the whole South Asian region. BRAC University represented Bangladesh at SAUFEST 2009 and made our country proud by winning the most coveted prize for ‘Best Team of the Festival.’ To widen the Bangladeshi smile even further, Nazia Ahmed of the BRAC University team won the ‘Best Vocalist of the Festival’ award!

The 14-member BRAC University team arrived at Panjab University campus on February 11, 2009. The events began the day after and Shabnam Mostafa, an architect to be, of the BRAC team staged a sensational classical dance performance to Nelly Furtado’s “Powerless.” The fact that the lyric of the song has some Punjabi words thrown in was a way of celebrating the merging of cultures.

Apart from Nazia Ahmed’s unforgettable renditions of ever-familiar Bangla folk songs “Har kala”, “Shonar moina pakhi” and “Nao chhariya dey,” Adrita Anwar and S.M. Miftahuzzaman sang a lovely duet, Tagore’s “Bela jey jaye.” Adrita sang another Rabindra Sangeet “Bhalobashi bhalobashi.” Miftahuzzaman presented a solo performance of a song written by one of the BRAC team members. Another BRAC member, Ahmed Bin Parvez sang “Shorbonasha Padma nodi.” Singers formed the majority of the BRAC team and it was completed by Salman Raihan Khan, who set the stage on fire with a charged performance of Ayub Bachchu’s “Shei tumi.” The young Bangladeshi singers rounded up with a chorus of “Purbo digontey shurjo uthhechhey.” The forcefulness of the vocals reverberated in the air.

The BRAC team also took part in debate. BRAC students Fahim Mostafa and M. Sanjeeb Hossain parted ways and debated each other as well as debaters from other countries. The motion was, “Youth is the most potent force to establish peace in South Asia.” Sanjeeb’s utopian aspiration of seeing a united South Asia through the enlightened young was well received, along with Fahim’s extempore cynicism of relying on the youth alone.

Tamanna Zaman Khondoker, another dancer of the BRAC team, performed with “Dokhina,” a Santali song. Tamanna teamed up with the other Bangladeshi dancer, Shabnam, and performed with “Takdum takdum baajey Bangladesh-er dhol.” The performance garnered rounds of applause and cheers.

The mime piece by Syed Parvez Imran and Md. Mehedi Hasan Tusar was also a hit with the audience. The symbolic storyline, brainchild of the BRAC University team leader Dr. Tureen Afroz, brought to light a key issue: how the bigger South Asian countries impose their policies and visions on their smaller neighbours. The skit showed that no matter how powerful a country might be, bad times often arrive unexpectedly, and it is the neighbour — big or small — that comes forward with a helping hand.

Md. Amjad Hossain Siddique offered his instrumental expertise with many of the performances of the BRAC team members.

All in all, SAUFEST 2009 was an uplifting experience for the participating young men and women from Bangladesh. The BRAC teams raised the Bangladeshi flag to greater heights at the event. Here’s hoping more such achievements by Bangladeshi youth are on the horizon.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net

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