With the four-day Dhaka Lit Fest having concluded yesterday observing a sizeable turnout as usual, it is safe to say that there is still a hunger in the hearts of Bangladeshis when it comes to the arts that is not being sated.
As a nation rich in culture, it is unfortunate that the number of avenues for people, especially in the capital, is so low. Clearly a renewed focus on the arts is the order of the day, not only in terms of meeting local demands but also in terms of adding a new dimension to how we showcase and export our culture and ideals.
Last year, the government revealed an interest to invest more than upwards of Tk1,000 crore in setting up cinema halls at the district and upazila levels alongside grand plans to modernize the entire industry itself. This needs to be followed up on.
In fact, our film industry itself has been the victim of stagnation for as long as we have been an independent nation. With a severe lack of diversity, not just in terms of subject matter but also the personnel involved in film-making, we are seeing fledgling over-the-top platforms pick up the slack.
Indeed, the same can be said in a rather blanket manner about all of our industries that deal in the arts and literature.
But one of the biggest impediments, as far as our cities are concerned, is the lack of dedicated venues where a citizen can go to enjoy the arts. Despite a vibrant music industry, our capital still has a gross lack of auditoriums or concert halls, for example.
We hope the success of events such as DLF, despite the introduction of a new ticketing system, can highlight just how starved Bangladeshis are when it comes to appreciating the arts. It is, after all, an important part of our national identity.