Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the government plans to build cultural centres in all upazilas to promote art and culture and help make budding talents flourish across the country.
“We will build cultural centres in all 493 upazilas across the country so that our children get opportunities to develop their talent in art and culture,” she said while inaugurating eight new buildings of Shilpakala Academy in Kusthia, Khulna, Jamalpur, Narayanganj, Pabna, Manikganj, Moulvibazar and Rangpur.
The prime minister joined the program, held at Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka, virtually from her official residence, Ganabhaban.
She asked the authorities concerned to build multipurpose halls at the planned upazila-level cultural complexes where cinemas, including feature and short films, can be screened.
“You have to prepare the projects keeping that in your mind. People will get the chance to get entertainment and they will have the scope to flourish their merits too,” she said.
She called for the patronization of the traditional cultural practices and festivals such as folk songs, Jatra, and Kobi Gaan in the country.
“These are our invaluable assets that need our special attention,” she said.
The prime minister reiterated that her government has created a fund of Tk1,000 crore to modernize the old cinema halls of the country. She urged the owners to avail the opportunity and make the halls modern and smart.
“This opportunity is also available for the new cinema halls,” she said.
The primer urged the people to stay alert to vested interest groups who seek to provoke confrontation between religion and culture. She said: “It’s not right at all.”
In this connection, she also added that people from all religions celebrate Pohela Boishakh with utmost festivity. “We have to cultivate our tradition and continue this for the generation after generation, and we must not forget our roots.”
The nation has to go with the trend of the new era and the children have to cope with modernity, she added. “Tradition, modern technology, and knowledge can’t be separated from each other.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina further added: “We have to go further, we have to advance in the era of technology, all have to remember that."
She said that people from all religions live in Bangladesh apart from small ethnic groups.
“We have created scope for all cultures to flourish. We have to give special attention so these could be flourished further,” she added.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Abul Monsur and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky also spoke at the program.
A documentary on the newly constructed eight Shilpakala Academy buildings in eight districts was screened.
The prime minister also witnessed a colourful cultural program staged at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
