Dhaka has a busy theater calender. A large number of theater groups regularly stage plays, both original, and translated/adapted versions of western plays.

CULTURAL SHOWS

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Cultural Shows are frequently held in several venues such as Dhaka Metropolitan Theater, Mohila Samity and Guide House audiotoriums, British Council and Russian Cultural Center. Check with hotel receptions and the daily newspapers for details.


CINEMAS & THEATERS

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Some of the popular theater groups are - Dhaka Theatre, Nagarik Nattya Sampraday, Aranyak, Natychakra, Natyajon, Kranti, Matridhara and Bibortan etc. There are also many Cinema halls in all cities and towns where people watch mainly Bangladeshi movies. Some cinema halls also screen Hollywood and Hongkong made movies.

MUSIC & SONGS
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The musical instruments one will see or hear in Bangladesh include the bamboo flute, the tabla (a set of two percussion drums) and a wide variety of stringed instruments from the crude banjo like village 'ek-tara' (one stringed), 'do-tara' (two stringed) and to the highly refined multi stringed 'Sitar' and 'Sarode' used for classical music. Violins are also used and electric as well as ordinary guitars are played. The 'Tanpura' is used for the drone accompaniment in classical music. Harmonium is popular as an accompaniment in vocal performances. Living in the land of torrential rains, mighty rivers and lush green beauty, the average Bangladeshi has a deep relationship with nature. The music of Bangladesh is therefore emotional, ecstatic and romantic. Among the genres sung or performed quite regularly are :

Classical songs and music
Semi-classical songs and music
Palli Geeti or folk songs
Rabindra Sangeet (songs by Rabindranath Tagore, the 1913 Nobel Prize winner in Literature)
Nazrul Geeti (songs by the Rebel poet of Bangaladesh).
Religious songs
Adhunik Gaaan or modern Bangla songs
Gano Sangeet or inspirational songs for the masses
Pop Songs
Bhatiali or boatmen's songs
Bhawaia or bullock cart drivers song
Band music or rock music

DANCE
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The tradition of dance in Bangladesh is an old one. The classical dance forms have mostly been taken from North and South Indian schools, while influences of middle eastern dance is also noticeable in local dance forms. The indigenous and folk dance traditions are practiced widely and reflect the rich culture and history of Bangladesh. Many ethnic gorups have their own, distinct dance that are distinguished by grace and charm. For the santals and the hill people of Chittagong hill tracts are also have many attractive dance forms that quite popular with the people.

ART GALLERIES

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Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts
House 275/F, Road 27
Dhanmondi, Dhaka
Tel: 8123115
Email: bf@bdonline.com

BPS (Bangladesh Photographic Society) Secretariat Gallery
63/2, Science Laboratory Road Ground Floor, Dhaka
Tel: 8611284
Email: bps-bd@yahoo.com

Cezanne Art Gallery
UAE Moitri Complex
Kemal Ataturk Avenue
Banani, Dhaka
Tel: 8826578
Email: cezanne@bangla.net

Cezanne Art Gallery
Dhaka Sheraton Hotel, Dhaka ,
Tel: 8613391 Ext- 564

Divine Art Gallery
Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel
107, Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue
Karwan Bazar, Dhaka Drik Gallery
House 58, Road 15A(New)
Dhanmondi, Dhaka
Tel: 9120125, Fax: 9115044
Email: office@drik.net

Gallery Chitrak
House-21, Road-4
Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka
Tel: 8620345
Email: chitrak@agni.com Gallery 21
765, Satmasjid Road
Dhanmondi, Dhaka

National Art Gallery
Segunbagicha, Dhaka-1000
Tel: 9562801 Shilpa Rag
House 15, Road 16
Dhanmondi, Dhaka
Tel: 8117085 Fax: 8117085
Email: shilparg@vasdigital.com

Ree Art Gallery
281, New Circular Road (2nd Floor)
Mouchak, Dhaka Tivoli Art Gallery
F/33, DCC Super Market (1st Floor)
Gulshan-2 (North) Dhaka
Tel: 9895903

Shilpangan
House-25, Road-5
Dhanmondi, Dhaka

CLUBS

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American Club
House-13, Road-69, Gulshan Avenue , Dhaka
Tel: 8821025-7
Fax: 8821435
Email: aradhaka@citechco.net

Canadian Club
House 16, DIT Avenue , Gulshan
Dhaka-1212
Tel: 9881208, 8822704


Dutch Club
Road 80, House 2
Gulshan2, Dhaka
Tel: 8821892

Dhaka Club
Shahbagh, Dhaka
Tel: 8619183-4
Fax: 8610277
Email: dcl@bd-online.com


Dhanmondi Recreation Club
House 5, Road 10,
Dhanmondi, Dhaka
Tel: 9133282 Gulshan Club
House-NWJ/2/A, Road-50
Gulshan-2, Dhaka
Tel: 8827440, 8810313-4
Fax: 8829476

German Club
78, Gulshan Avenue
Road 104, Dhaka
Tel: 9895921 Kurmitola Golf Club
Dhaka Cantonment
Kurmitola, Dhaka
Tel: 8752520, 8752563
Fax: 8752521

Ladies Club
36, Eskaton Road, Dhaka
Tel: 9331461 National Press Club
Topkhana Road , Dhaka
Tel : 9563395, 9563383

Uttara Club
House 6, Road 9, Sector 1
Uttara, Dhaka
Tel: 8912600, 8913143
Fax: 8920642

NATIONAL MUSEUM

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Established in 1913, the national museum was - shifted to the present four storied building at Shahbag in 1983, the museum has forty galleries under four departments, namely:
National History, History and cultural art, Ethnography and Decorative art and Contemporary art and Civilization.


The museum contains a large number of interesting collections including ancient stone and metal sculptures and statues, old coins, metal images, books on art, ivory and silver filigree works, textiles including the world famous fabric muslin, embroidered quilt (Nakshi kantha), arms and ammunitions of the bygone warriors, varieties of fine handicrafts and models of village and town life, contemporary paintings and sculptures. The gallery has a section devoted exclusively to our heroic liberation war.

Open : Saturday - Wednesday, 10:00 am - 7:00pm and Friday 3.00 p.m - 8.00 p.m. and closed on Thursday
Entrance Fee : 10.00
Phone : 880-2-8619396-99


MUKTI JUDDHO (Liberation war) MUSEUM

Situated at Segunbagicha area of the city, the museum contains rare photographs of our liberation war and items used by the freedom fighters and martyrs of our glorious war of independence.
Phone : 880-2-9559091
Fax : 880-2-9559092

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AHSAN MANZIL MUSEUM

Situated in the old part of Dhaka on the bank of the river Buriganga the majestic Ahsan Manzil was once the home of the Nawabs(Rulers) of Dhaka, and now a museum. The victorian style palace, painted bright pink, and with a huge dome at the top is a silent spectator to many historic events. Ahsan Manzil museum has 31 rooms and 23 galleries displaying portraits, furniture and household articles and utensils used by the Nawabs.

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FOLK ART MUSEUM
The Folk Art Museum, which was established in 1975 to fulfill the dream of the celebrated painter Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, has a rich collection of different folk objects of aesthetic and utilitarian values. These reflect the temperment, skill and expertise of the artists and artisans who made them. The museum is a national institution which represents the traditional art and heritage of Bangladesh, exhibiting objects of exceptional design and skill.

Open : Saturday - Thursday 9.00a.m to 5.00 p.m.
Phone : Ph: 880-2-9716960 .

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SCIENCE MUSEUM
Located at Agargaon, the museum is a modern learning centre related to the latest scientific discoveries.

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ETHNOLOGICAL MUSEUM
The ethnological museum at Chittagong has extensive facilities for ethnological research. The museum houses a selection of objects associated with the 12 ethnic tribes of Bangladesh and also of many tribes of Australia, India and Pakistan. Visitors have to pay a small entrance fee.

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COURT BUILDING MUSEUM
Situated on the Fairy Hill in Chittagong, this building commands a magnificent bird's eye view of the port-city .The court building was a witness to many activities during the war of liberation in 1971. The museum commemorates many of the important events of the time. A museum has recently been established here.

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TRIBAL MUSEUM
The only Tribal Cultural Museum in the Hill Tracts region was established at Rangamati town in 1978 and is run by the Tribal Cultural Institute. It preserves valuable objects and articles of different tribes depicting their socio-economic, cultural and historical traditions. These include typical tribal dresses, ornaments, arms, ammunitions, coins, statues made of gold, bronze and other metals, musical instruments, ivory products, handicrafts and paintings on tribal life, etc.

Open : Saturday - Thursday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. and closed on Friday and Public Holidays.


VARENDRA RESEARCH MUSEUM

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Situated at Rajshahi, this museum has a rich collection of objects from Mohenjodaro and also from 16th to 19th centuries. The museum is devoted to the study of ancient history and culture. Its rich collection contains interesting objects of Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim heritage. The museum is maintained by Rajshahi University .

Fun & Games

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Club Amazon
House Ne(H)2, Road 80
Gulshan, Dhaka
Tel: 8818645, 9884474
Fax: 9884474
Email: c_amazon@bangla.net

Fantasy Kingdom
Asulia, Jamgor, Savar
Tel: 8814030, 8814028
Ext-1806, 1801
Fax: 9887037
Email: concord@bangla.net

Fantasy World
Concord Twin Tower , Shantinagar, Dhaka

Gulshan Shooting Club
Gulshan-1, Dhaka
Tel: 9888301, Fax: 8812970

Kurmitola Golf Club
Dhaka Cantonment, Kurmitola
Tel: 8752520, 8752563 Sports Zone
5, Mohakhali, Dhaka
Fax: 8821394
Email: paragon@bdmail.net

Wonderland
Gulshan Avenue , Gulshan-2
Tel: 9885938, Fax: 8813097
Email: w.land@bdcom.com


SPORTS

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Bangladeshis are lovers of all sorts of sports and games, and facilities are being expanded steadily. Sport activities are co-ordinated by local, regional and national bodies. These organizations hold tournaments and competitions at various levels. Participation in national and international meets have made improvement in standard, though much remains to be done in this field. Many regional and international sports meets are regularly held in Bangladesh. Popular games and sports of Bangladesh are football, cricket, volleyball, basket ball, boat racing, target shooting, kite flying, swimming, badminton, chess, tennis, wrestling, ha-do-do and dariabanda (local game). Golf and water-skiing are also gaining in popularity. Bangladesh achieved international test cricket status in the year 2001.