Cultural front against communalism
In an exchange of views meeting with cultural journalists of the print, electronic and online media, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, talked on various issues. Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) arranged the press meet at the seminar room of BSA on March 31.
Director General of BSA Liaquat Ali Lucky presided over the programme while the minister, in his speech, said, “To face communal forces, culture is the biggest tool. If cultural practices flourish and more people engage with cultural activities, an environment of free thinking will emerge. We have to work together to make a culturally vibrant Bangladesh.
Our government has taken many projects and programmes especially to build cultural institutes, museum and infrastructures including, Natural History Museum, Sachin Dev Burman Cultural Centre, Preetilata Wadedder cultural Centre, Hason Raja Cultural Centre, Chittagong Muslim Cultural Institute, museums for the indigenous groups, a cultural centre at Hatirjheel area.
Alongside cultural activities at district level, BSA has already constructed 12 open stages at upazila level across the country. Besides, our ministry, with support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is going to open three Bangladeshi cultural centres in New York, London and Kolkata.
SAARC authority has also proposed us to declare a SAARC cultural city in Bangladesh. We are thinking of Mahasthangarh (Borga) to be declared as it is the first capital of ancient Bengal.”
In response to a question, the minister informed that his ministry will create an “Artiste Welfare Fund” initially with 10 crore taka. Asaduzzaman Noor also emphasised on the need to promote culturally-conscious persons who will represent our cultural, literary and artistic heritages.
To meet this end, he said, the ministry with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs will work in close quarters.
Comments