Cultural adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki on Tuesday emphasized the need for shared narratives and empathy to unite the nation.
He said that the July uprising paves the way for healing, reconciliation, and respect for diverse cultures.
“No culture is superior to another, and a significant moment occurred during this year’s New Year celebration in Bangladesh, where, for the first time in history, all ethnic groups, including the majority Bengalees, celebrated the New Year together,” the adviser furthered.
Farooki made these remarks on Tuesday while addressing an event titled Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum+ 2025 in Hong Kong.
Participating cultural ministers and senior officials from 17 countries joined the Panel. They exchanged views and shared experiences on policies and measures to promote arts and cultural development.
The theme of the Forum is “Connect, Create, Engage: Bridging Cultures for All”. Officiating at a Panel, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Rosanna Law, highlighted that the world has undergone rapid and vigorous changes and technological advancement is something inevitable.
She said, “A people-oriented approach should be adopted to promote the arts and cultural development, i.e,. to connect more with people, to create more for people, and to engage more people.”
During a bilateral meeting that followed the panel discussion, Farooki discussed with Rosanna Law, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hong Kong, to explore potential collaboration in New Media art education between Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and a prospective counterpart in Hong Kong.
There should be a focus on tailored training programs in immersive technologies and film masterclasses. Farooki highlighted that Hong Kong presents a promising opportunity for Action Film productions, offering a substantial twenty-five percent tax rebate that is highly advantageous for filmmakers.
During another bilateral meeting, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, the Cultural Minister of Pakistan, and Farooki discussed the potential for a joint travelling art exhibition between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
This exhibition would highlight the national collection of early master artists, including Zainul Abedin, Mohammad Kibria, Murtaza Baseer, and Novera Ahmed.
Farooki highlighted the significance of educational exchange, especially for the advancement of new media and contemporary art in Bangladesh.
Farooki advocated for additional scholarships for Bangladeshi artists to pursue studies at globally recognized institutions such as Beaconhouse National University.
Another bilateral meeting was held between Badri Pande, the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal, and Farooki. Both parties discussed the longstanding cooperation between Nepal and Bangladesh and explored ways to elevate this partnership to new heights. Pande expressed gratitude to the government of Bangladesh for its comprehensive support for the education of Nepali students living in Bangladesh, particularly in medical studies.
He also extended his best wishes for a successful democratic transition in Bangladesh. Farooki expressed his commitment to fostering future collaboration and art residency opportunities between Nepali and Bangladeshi artists and conveyed his best wishes for the successful completion of the Buddhist Monastery initiated by Bangladesh in Lumbini.
Farooki also noted that the interim government recognizes religious rituals as essential to cultural practices in South Asia, and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs will facilitate and support cultural activities for the upcoming major Buddhist event in Bangladesh, Budha Purnima, in the coming weeks.
The Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum has been convened since 2003 to facilitate cultural collaboration and exchanges across various regions. This edition features cultural ministers and senior officials from Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Korea, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. Chan Kwok-ki, the Acting Chief Executive of Hong Kong, hosted a gala dinner for the delegations and local cultural leaders.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
