BSM Novo Theatre
Type: Theatre
Contributed By: Nayeem ,F. Zaman,Shameem Bakhshi,Ali Haidar Khan
Brief
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theater has been established as a Non-formal Science Educational institution to eradicate superstitions and blind faith from the society and to inculcate positive scientific temper in the mind of people especially among the students. This Theater has been established by the Ministry of Science & Technology containing 22,096 square meters of land at Bijoy Sharani, Tejgaon in the center of Dhaka City. Total expenditure of the project was Taka 1,231.27 million which has been provided entirely from the GOB’s own fund.
A large number of advanced technological instruments have been procured from Japan, America, Korea, France, Italy and India for the planetarium. Not only the Planetarium Show, a very exciting Ride Simulator, 5D Movie theater, 5D Interactive Edutainment Simulator, model of Planets of Solar System, Scientific & Digital Exhibits and some portraits of world-renowned Scientists and Scholars are also available at the site of Novo Theater. Moreover, a 150 seated well-furnished auditorium, 50 seated conference room, hydraulic lifts, ramp and a car parking area having the capacity of 100 vehicles are belonging to the Novo Theater.
The theater opened to public on 25th September 2004. It was previously named Bhashani Novo Theater. The space center was commissioned by the Ministry of Science and Communication Technology of the Government of Bangladesh. Built on 5.46 acres of land, its spaces range in size from its 21-meter dome, seating 275 people; to three-meter inflatable and portable domes where people sit on the floor. The planetarium was designed by architect Ali Imam.
The Planetarium dome simulates Earth and it’s cool blue sky. This dome-shaped theater was built with the latest equipment, enabling visitors to soar into space as well as experience the thrills of an interplanetary journey in a three-dimensional environment. The curved ceiling represents the sky and shows moving images of planets and stars through projection onto a large-screen dome at an angle of 120 degrees.
This planetarium features three kinds of exhibits. They Journey to Infinity presents a celestial show of stars, planets and other heavenly bodies in virtual reality. The “ai amader” Bangladesh features Bangabandhu Sheik Mujibur Rahman`s 7 March lecture, while The Grand Canyon describes North America`s settlement clan, Garikhad, which existed in The Grand Canyon four thousand years ago. Visitors need not look up in the dome to watch the show. Instead, they feel they are watching space live, with everything around them, presented by 150 projectors. The Planetarium added a new capsule simulator and smart-step floor.
Items of Exhibition: 2 different types of motion pictures are shown in this theater. The 1st one is “A Journey to Infinity” and the 2nd one is “Ei Amar Bangladesh (This is My Bangladesh)”. The 1st picture shows the details of the Outer Space, the Sun and the Planets while the 2nd one depicts the Nature, Tradition and Rural Life of Bangladesh.
How to go
There are many local and direct buses from various places inside and outside Dhaka. You can visit Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre very easily through rickshaw and public transport with minimum cost of 30 BDT from Motijheel in Dhaka.
How To Reach: Dhaka District
Most popular transport system in Dhaka city is Rickshaw. You can find available buses (Local or direct service) in coming inside or move outside Dhaka city. There are other transport systems like Trains, Rivers and Air.
Where to Stay
There are more than 71 quality hotel in Dhaka. Some are listed below…
1. Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka
107 , Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Tel: +880 2 811 1005
Website : Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka
2. Ruposhi Bangla Hotel
1 Minto Road, Shahbagh, Dhaka,
Bangladesh.
Phone : 88-02-8330001
Fax : 88-02-8312975
Email : sales@ruposhibanglahotel.com
Website : Ruposhi Bangla Hotel
3. Radisson Water Garden Hotel, Dhaka
Airport Road, Dhaka Cantonment,
Dhaka 1206 Bangladesh.
Telephone: + 88 02 8754555
Fax: + 88 02 8754554 , + 88 02 8754504
Email : reservations.dhaka[at]radisson.com
Website : Radisson Water Garden Hotel
Dhaka Bangladesh
4. Dhaka Regency Hotel & Resort
Airport Road, Nikunja 2
Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh.
Phone : +88-02-8913912, +880 2 8900250-9
Fax : +88-02-8911479
Email : info@dhakaregency.com
Website : www.dhakaregency.com
5. Best Western La Vinci Hotel, Dhaka
54, Kawran Bazar,
Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh
Phone No : 880-2-9119352
Fax No : 880-2-9131218
E-mail : lavinci[at]bol-online.com ,
reservation[at]lavincihotel.com
Web : www.lavincihotel.com
Things to do
Novo-theaters winter exhibition schedule:
The exhibition will run everyday from November,2015 to February,2016
Weekly Holiday: Wednesday
1st Exhibition: Dawn of the Space Age (10:30 am Morning)
2nd Exhibition: Mission to Black Hole (12:00 pm Noon)
3rd Exhibition: Journey to the stars (02:00 pm Afternoon)
4th Exhibition: Goodnight Goldilocks (03:30 pm Afternoon)
5th Exhibition: Symphony of the Starry Sky (05:00 pm Afternoon)
Eating Facilities
Travel Tips
Restrictions:
- Foods are not allowed inside the theatre.
- Taking photographs and igniting lights are strictly prohibited during show time.
- Nobody is allowed to enter inside while the show is going on.
Price of Tickets:
There are 4 ticket counters in front
of the theatre; 2 on the East side and 2 on the West side.
Price of a ticket is tk50; children
under 2 have free entrance.
There is a special ride inside the
theatre which is called the ‘Simulator Ride’; you have to collect a ticket
worth tk5 for enjoying this 5-minute ride.
Sale of tickets starts before 1 hour
of the show time.
Regular Show Time:
Saturday to Thursday: 10.30 AM, 12.00 PM, 2.00 PM, 3.30 PM, 5.00 PM, 6.30 PM
Ticket Collection Time: 10.00 AM, 10.30 AM, 12.00 PM, 2.00 PM, 3.30 PM, 5.00 PM
Friday: 10.30 AM, 12.00 PM, 2.00 PM, 3.30 PM, 5.00 PM, 6.30 PM
Ticket Collection Time: 10.00 AM, 10.30 AM, 12.00 PM, 2.00 PM, 3.30 PM, 5.00 PM
Closed: Wednesday
Special Show Time for the Month of Ramadan:
Saturday to Thursday: 10.00 AM, 12.00 PM, 2.00 PM
Friday: 9.00 AM, 11.00 AM, 2.30 PM
Closed: Wednesday
The theatre remains closed on all Govt. holidays.
Parking:
The theatre has underground parking system. Parking charges are as follows:
Tk30/bus
Tk10/car
Tk5/motorcycle
Toilet Facility:
There are separate toilets on the West side of the ground floor of the theatre; 8 for Ladies and 8 for Gents.
Security and Fire Safety:
Bangabondhu Novo Theatre has sufficient security people, equipment’s and fire safety arrangements.