Introduction : To eradicate superstitions and blind faith from the society and to inculcate positive scientific temper in the mind of people specially among the students, ‘Bhasani Novo Theatre, Dhaka ' has been established as a Non-formal Science Education Centre.
Bhasani Novo Theatre has been established by the Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology, containing 22,096 square meter of land at Bijoy Sharani, Tejgaon in the centre 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 and India for the planetarium.
Besides the Planetarium Show a very exciting Ride Simulator, model of Planets of Solar System, Scientific Exhibits and some portraits of world-renowned Scientists and Scholars are also available at the site of Novo Theatre. Moreover, a 150 seated well-furnished auditorium, an excellent conference room, hydraulic lifts, ramp and a car parking area having the capacity of 100 vehicles are belonging to the centre.
Inauguration : Steps had been taken to implement the project in May, 1997 and the implementation period was over in June, 2004. Bhasani Novo Theatre, Dhaka was inaugurated on 25th September, 2004 . Then the Planetarium Show was opened for public from 27 th September.
Film Information : The show of Novo Theatre contains two parts: one is Planetarium Show and the other is Large Format Film Show. First one is named ‘The Journey to Infinity'. It entirely shows stars, planets, galaxies and so on. This film will run for ten years at stress. Then it might be changed. However, the other one, Large Format Film Show, is being changed once in every year. Usually September is the month when new film of large format, which is entirely related with animal life, starts here.
Show Schedule : Weekly holiday of the institute is Wednesday. It remains closed on other government holidays also. Weekly schedule of shows at Bhasani Novo Theatre is as bellow:
No
Day
Show Time
01
Saturday
11:00am, 1:00pm , 3:00pm and 5:00pm
02
Sunday
11:00am, 1:00pm , 3:00pm and 5:00pm
03
Monday
11:00am, 1:00pm , 3:00pm and 5:00pm
04
Tuesday
11:00am, 1:00pm , 3:00pm and 5:00pm
05
Wednesday
Weekly Holiday
06
Thursday
11:00am, 1:00pm , 3:00pm and 5:00pm
07
Friday
10:00am, 3:00pm , 5:00pm and 7:00pm
Ticket : The price of each ticket is Taka 50.00. Tickets are being sold from its counters located at the entry gate. Usually before two hours of each show, we start selling tickets and one person standing on the queue can collect one ticket only at a time on first come first serve basis. There is also the arrangement of advance ticket booking for students and institutions. In that case, official application should be submitted addressing to the Director of Bhasani Novo Theatre keeping time in hand. However, no discount in ticket fair for anybody or any group is given. Total seat capacity in the planetarium dome is 275.
Ticket selling schedule : Usually before two hours of each show, we start selling tickets. Exact ticket selling schedule at Novo Theatre is as bellow:
Event
Timing
Show Time
11:00am
1:00pm
3:00pm
5:00pm
7:00pm
Ticket selling starts
10:00am
11:00am
1:00pm
3:00pm
5:00pm
But we start selling tickets at 2:00pm for 3:00pm show of Friday.
Other Events : Computer Fair, Space Fair, Internet Fair, Seminars, Meetings, Scientific Workshops etc. have been organizing here regularly since its inception. All these arrangements are obviously helping to build up an educated and science minded nation.
Staff & Training : Novo Theatre has 41 regular staffs including one director and one deputy director. Beside those 21 gardeners, sweepers and security guards have been working on daily basis. Among all these staffs five Space Theatre Operators went to Calcutta in April, 2005 for having training on operation of the machine. After that, they have participated in a six-month long training here at Novo Theatre.
Machine & Operation : At Bhasani Novo Theatre there are so many projector machines like: GSS Helios of Goto Incorporation, half circled and perforated aluminum screen of Astrotech Co., Space Simulator, different special effect projectors and Astrovision 70 which is a pan hemispheric projection device. Sound system is highly sophisticated and Hi8 technology is being used. 70 mm films are used here and those have 10 perforations, which makes it different, bigger and lively than other normal films. With the help of these entire machines, a strong computer network does the necessary arrangements of show operation. And the Space Theatre Operators (STO) of Novo Theatre run them from two different points of the dome while Goto Incorporation, Japan looks after the maintenance and servicing of the machine.
Cautions: Kids aged less than two years are discouraged to watch planetarium show. Food, beverage, bags, camera are not allowed inside the Novo Theatre. Taking photograph, using mobile phone or switching any light on inside the auditorium is strictly prohibited. Visitors are not allowed to enter into the dome after starting the show.
Contact us : For more information, you can contact at the following numbers:
