The first ever Sylhet-Silchar Festival, organized to celebrate the cultural ties between the two countries, began in Assam's Barak Valley on Friday.
A 150-member delegation from Bangladesh led by Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen joined the three-day festival.
The formalities of the festival began with the national anthems of the two countries.
Dhaka TribuneAmongst the multiple commonalities between India and Bangladesh, links between Silchar and Sylhet stand out. The India Foundation is hosting the festival in an attempt to celebrate the age-old and people-to-people connection.
Indian Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region G Kishan Reddy and Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the event. Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Md Mustafizur Rahman was present on the occasion.
“With the aim of revisiting the common values and shared heritage of the twin cities and their people separated by international borders, the festival will showcase tribal culture, cuisine, arts, crafts and local produce, entertainment and bring together eminent people from both sides to discuss and deliberate on issues of mutual growth and opportunity," the organizers earlier said in a statement.
Dhaka TribuneIn addition, the festival will provide a platform to explore multi-disciplinary trade opportunities in sectors such as healthcare, tourism, education and digital infrastructure.
With the support of India's Ministry of Culture, Assam government and in association with the Bangladesh-India Friendship Society and India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the festival will mark the first step towards creating potential opportunities for all involved, hoped the organizers.
