Rong Dong Theatre

The Daily Star
December 10, 2008
Shantimoy Chakma,

Rangamati: A scene from the play “Baan”. “Baan” -- a play on the plight of indigenous people, who lost their homes to the Kaptai Lake -- was staged at the auditorium of Rangamati Tribal Culture Institute on November 22. The play has been written by Mrittika Chakma and directed by Purnya Bikash Chakma. “Rong Dhong Theatre”, a local cultural organization has produced the play.

“Baan” refers to flood or rapid swelling of rivers. The play “Baan” addresses the displacement of the local indigenous groups due to the construction of Kaptai Hydroelectric Power Plant in 1960. After the construction was over, homes and arable lands went under water.

Nearly 54,000 hectors of arable land was submerged in Kaptai Lake while approximately two lakh indigenous people became homeless. Although the government provided compensations to the affected families, it was nominal compared to their loss.

The purpose of staging the play was to depict the sufferings of the displaced people due to the construction of the power plant.