Bangladesh Centre of the International Theatre Institute

Bangladesh Centre of the International Theatre Institute is the local chapter of the International Theatre Organisation, established in 1948 under the auspices of UNESCO. ITI, which is headquartered in Paris, was formed to liaise among the world theatre communities by staging plays and organising world congresses, workshops, seminars, symposia etc. Anyone associated with the theatre, dramatists, administrators, singers, dancers, musicians, directors, designers, actors, actresses, theatre anthropologists, essayists, theorists, critics may become a member of ITI. The organisation is governed by a 14-member executive committee including a president and two vice-presidents. The day-to-day administration of ITI is looked after by a secretary general located in Paris.

Bangladesh became an associate member of ITI in 1982 and full member in 1989. It was elected member of the executive committee for four consecutive terms, and also vice-president for one term. ITI, Bangladesh, organises an international seminar, including a theatre festival, every two years. It has published The World of Theatre, an anthology containing accounts of contemporary theatre in different countries. It has also projected Bangladesh theatre internationally. Among those closely involved with ITI, Bangladesh, are Ramendu Majumder, Ataur Rahman, Nasiruddin Yusuf, Mafidul Haque, Mamunur Rashid, Abdus Selim, Shafi Ahmed, Debprashad Debnath. [Ataur Rahman]