The two-day "Anne Frank Fest", organised by Mad Theatre, was held at the Nilima Ibrahim Auditorium of Bangladesh Mahila Samity from October 22. The chief guest at the inauguration ceremony were the Ambassador of the Netherlands Embassy in Bangladesh and freedom fighter Anne van Leeuwen, eminent thespian and freedom fighter Nasiruddin Yousuff, theatre personality Sara Zaker, popular stage and television actor Afzal Hossain, Subochon Natya Sangshad's Editor-in-Chief Ahmed Gias and Mad Theatre's Chief Adviser Prof Dr Israfeel Shaheen.

During the closing ceremony, renowned thespian Ramendu Majumdar and Trustee and Researcher of the Liberation War Museum Mofidul Haque were present.

Asadul Islam and Kazi Anisul Haque Borun are the playwrights of "Anne Frank", the third production of Mad Theatre, based on the "Diary of Anne Frank". During World War II, Anne Frank and her family took refuge in the secret annex, where they were captured by Hitler's Gestapo for 761 days.

Ramendu Majumdar speaks at the closing ceremony of the fest.

At 13 years old, Anne Frank was the youngest of the Frank family. She vividly painted the picture of their days in the confined quarters in her diary.

17-year-old Arjjay Meghdoot played the titular role in "Anne Frank". She appeared in this solo play as the youngest actress in a mainstream theatre project in Bangladesh.

It was also the first time a solo drama on the historical character Anna Frank was screened in Bangladesh. The audience was thrilled to see the play and expect it to be widely circulated among young people

From her childhood, Meghdoot has been on stage and now has 10 years of experience certified by Academy of the Fine Arts, Dhaka, Bangladesh. She was only four when she left the audience in awe with her first performance. 

Meghdoot has earned her stripes performing at the event 'Women, Liberation, Equality and Freedom' on March 23, 2021 at the Golden Jubilee programme of Bangladesh's Independence and the birth ceremony of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. This is not her first time acting at Mad Theatre as she was a cast member in their play "Noddiyo Notim".

She has also been on commercials such as Harvest Plus' Zinc Rice and ATM's TV serial "Radio Jockey & Kotipoy Golpo" directed by Murad Parvez. 

Apart from acting, she is also adept at anchoring. She hosted the "Dissemination of National Plan of Action for Adolescent Heath Strategy and National Conference on Adolescent Health" last year and Farm Fresh Children's Day events for two consecutive years.

Duronto TV's special quiz show for ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, "Char Chokka Marpach" and the special 45 episode talk-show for FIFA World Cup 2018 "Duronto Biswacup" were both anchored by her.

She made the country proud by being one of the participants at the International Odissi Utshab 2019 held at Kolkata, India.

Meghdoot is currently pursuing her O levels at Maple Leaf International School, Dhaka.

Translated by Shaniz Chowdhury