Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) staged “Suzannah” by 2023 Nobel laureate in literature Jon Fosse on 30 September, in what the university described as the first staging of a play by the Norwegian playwright in Bangladesh.

The production premiered at the IUB Auditorium as part of the Henrik Ibsen-Jon Fosse Festival 2026 Bangladesh. A second performance will take place today (3 October) at 6:30pm at the Studio Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, according to the press release.

Subah Binte Ahsan and Professor Ahmed Ahsanuzzaman of IUB’s Department of English and Modern Languages jointly translated the play into Bangla. Ahsanuzzaman directed the production, which was performed by IUB students.

IUB hosted the festival on 30 September with support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Dhaka. It brought together scholars, students, writers, theatre practitioners and members of the literary community to explore and celebrate the lives and works of Norwegian writers Henrik Ibsen and Jon Fosse.

Norwegian Ambassador to Bangladesh Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen attended as the guest of honour. The programme featured a keynote address by Professor Fakrul Alam and an academic panel discussion on Ibsen and Fosse. IUB Vice-Chancellor Professor M Tamim also spoke.

“As we look ahead to the bicentenary of Ibsen’s birth in 2028, the Embassy is proud to work with IUB to promote Norwegian literature and cultural exchange in Bangladesh,” Gulbrandsen said.

He expressed hope that the festival would inspire participants to continue exploring the works of Ibsen and Fosse.

Professor Razia Sultana Khan and Professor Sarker Hasan Al Zayed of IUB’s Department of English and Modern Languages, alongside Professor Sabiha Huq of BRAC University’s Department of English and Humanities, participated in the panel discussion.

IUB School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Dean Professor Bokhtiar Ahmed delivered the vote of thanks.

The festival also featured an awards ceremony for a national essay competition titled “Henrik Ibsen in the Broader Context of Democracy”. A total of 316 college and university students from across Bangladesh participated in the competition.