Loading...If you want to travel to distant stars from the comfort of the Earth or get a closer view of them, you can visit the Bangabandhu Novo Theatre in Dhaka’s Vijay Sarani. Formerly known as ‘Vasani Novo Theatre’, it is the only planetarium theatre in Bangladesh built by the Ministry of Science, Information, and Communication Technology of the Government of Bangladesh at a cost of 123 crore Taka. Advanced equipment for exhibitions has been brought from Japan, the USA, South Korea, and India.
The primary objective of the Bangabandhu Novo Theatre is to provide citizens, particularly students, with an understanding of space science through entertainment, eliminate superstitions, and encourage scientific education. Though the theatre building looks like it has five floors, it actually has three floors. The first and second floors are dedicated to the theatre, which has a seating arrangement for 200 viewers.
The planetarium’s semi-circular hall has a mesmerizing perforated aluminum screen. When you look at this screen, the entire hall ceiling seems like part of the movie. It is equipped with Japan’s Goto Company’s GSS Helias projector, which creates special effects. It also has the AstroVision 70 projector, which makes the experience of watching planets and stars in films more immersive. The combination of this high-quality projector with a massive aluminum screen makes the whole scene feel alive. Therefore, the exhibitions at the Novo Theatre are unforgettable and lifelong memories.
Exhibition Topics at the Novo Theatre
There are two regular films shown at the Novo Theatre. One is a space-related show, Journey to Infinity, and the other is a documentary on Bangladesh, This is Our Bangladesh. The Journey to Infinity show displays various documentaries about space. Created by American documentary filmmaker Dr. Bill Goss, this film, through the high-capacity projectors at the Novo Theatre, transports the viewers across planets, the Milky Way, and galaxies. You won’t feel like you’re watching a film; instead, you’ll feel like you are floating in the vast expanse of space. The film takes you through mysterious and awe-inspiring events like the Big Bang, the creation of the solar system, solar and lunar eclipses, meteors, and the movement of planets and stars in the past, present, and future. You will also witness the inner workings of the sun, the death of stars, and their disappearance into black holes.
The other film focuses on important landmarks, history, heritage, and culture of Bangladesh. It also portrays the values of humanity, equality, democracy, and secularism, which are at the core of our Liberation War. This film was directed, scripted, and narrated by the renowned author Syed Shamsul Haque.
Capsule Ride Simulator
The Capsule Ride Simulator is a roller coaster-like experience that takes you on a journey through the ancient pyramids and lets you experience the feeling of traveling through time in Egypt. The ride has 30 seats, and the ticket price per person is 20 Taka. Tickets can be collected from the counters inside or outside the Novo Theatre.
Other Scientific Exhibitions
The Novo Theatre also features a variety of scientific exhibitions, most of which are related to planets, stars, and galaxies. For example, there is a model of the solar system, various space-related images, and models of the sun, earth, and moon. There is also a touchscreen computer that provides scientific information on various topics with just a touch.
Entry Fee
The Novo Theatre has four counters—two on the east and two on the west side of the main building. The entry fee for just the main area is 10 Taka. However, you will not need this ticket if you purchase a ticket for the planetarium show or ride simulator. The ticket price for the planetarium show is 50 Taka per person.
There are five shows daily: at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM, and 7:00 PM. The theatre is closed on Wednesdays and other public holidays.
Tickets are sold at the counter before the show. For organizations, advance ticket booking can be arranged through the director.
The Novo Theatre also has a 150-seat auditorium, a 50-seat conference room, car parking, and open spaces available for rent as per government rates. However, it is not recommended for children under two years of age or people with severe health issues to attend the exhibitions.
Additional Features
Before entering the main building of the Novo Theatre, there is a small pond where various fish swim. You can feed the fish and enjoy watching their feeding behavior in an artistic display.
Contact Information:
For more details, contact: 9138878, 9139577, 8110184, 9130006 or visit www.novotheatre.gov.bd.
How to Get There:
You can reach the Novo Theatre from any part of Dhaka by CNG, bus, or taxi. Alternatively, you can walk to the Novo Theatre from Farmgate, Vijay Sarani, or Zia Udyan.
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