PM: Promote cultural heritage among youth

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday directed the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to take initiatives to promote Bangladesh’s rich cultural heritage among young people, foster reading habits among children and make cultural academies more active.
He issued the directives at a meeting with ministry officials after reviewing its overall activities, according to a press release.
At the meeting, the prime minister was briefed on various programmes and plans centred on the Lalon Festival and Nazrul Year. 
He was also informed about programmes planned for the winter cultural festival, scheduled to run from December to May.
The festival is set to feature circus performances, displays of rural culture, boat races, kite-flying festivals, horse racing, puppet shows and a range of cultural programmes.Activities involving people with disabilities will also be organised.
Representatives of the July Museum, the Department of Archaeology, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh National Museum, Bangla Academy and the National Book Centre, along with officials from other departments and agencies under the ministry, presented their ongoing activities and future plans.
The prime minister called on the relevant authorities to take the necessary steps to make Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy more vibrant and active.
He also directed officials to introduce initiatives to encourage reading among the younger generation, suggesting that they explore the possibility of delivering books to children through mobile libraries. 

He stressed the need to promote reading through reading circles, book-reading competitions and similar initiatives.
“Our culture spans a thousand years, yet perhaps we are failing to adequately convey it to our younger generation,” he said, noting that digital technology was drawing young people towards foreign cultures while distancing them from their own cultural traditions and heritage.
“This does not mean that we should forget our own culture. We must think about how to present our culture and heritage to the younger generation,” he said, urging those present to contribute towards achieving this goal from their respective positions.
“If we put in our best effort together, we can realise at least some aspects of the kind of society we wish to see. We have the opportunity to do something for the nation. Let us seize that opportunity,” he added.
Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, State Minister Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Information and Cultural Affairs Dr Zahed Ur Rahman, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon and relevant officials attended the meeting.