Govt working to establish Bangladesh’s culture on world stage: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said her government will take measures to establish the culture of Bangladesh in the global arena.

It will also pursue a move to enhance the culture in accordance with thoughts of the new generations so that they never forget the uniqueness of Bangladeshi culture, she said.

“As we are heading towards socio-economic advancement, we also have to march ahead culturally. We will take required measures as our culture can put a strong footing on the world stage,” Hasina said while laying the foundation stones of six development projects and inaugurating another.

She joined the function, organised by the cultural affairs ministry at the Bangladesh National Museum at Shahbagh, from the Gono Bhaban through a video conference.

The PM said her government has been working to incorporate technology for further improvement of the culture.

“The thoughts and beliefs of our children are ever-changing at the advent of newer technology. We have to improve our culture in accordance with their thoughts so they never forget the culture of Bangladesh,” she said.

She reiterated her government’s commitment to do whatever is necessary, as they did in the past, to improve and develop the culture of Bangladesh.

The PM said that in the last 14 and a half years, the government has already completed 41 development schemes at a cost of Tk 1,862 crore while implementing 14 other projects alongside 41 others that are waiting for approval for enhancement of Bangladeshi culture.

She said if anyone wanted to destroy any country, they would need to attack its culture, adding that the Pakistani occupation forces had tried to ruin Bangladesh’s cultural as they killed Bangladeshi intellectuals at the fag end of the Liberation War, knowing that their defeat was confirmed.

“We have always tried to uphold our culture alongside boosting it up and thus to march the country ahead,” she said.

The prime minister said her government has been working to build an educated nation with technological knowledge since 2009 by protecting and preserving the history and culture of the Bangalee nation, spirit of the Liberation War, literary and research works.

“The world is gripped by technology. We have to incorporate technology with our culture to build the nation as a modern and knowledge-based one generation after generation,” she added.

She said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave a cultural philosophy at a Bangla Academy programme in 1974, in which he said, “—we have to establish our country’s language, literature, culture and heritage on the global stage if we want to stand on our own feet as an independent nation.”

The prime minister added, “I believe it is our duty to establish the cultural philosophy of the Father of the Nation.”

Briefly describing her government’s measure to ensure the country’s overall development, she said, “Bangladesh doesn’t lag behind. It has nationwide wifi connection, electricity to every house and the condition of the people even at union-level has radically changed.”

She called for taking cultural practices up to the grassroots people and said, “We’ve many hidden talents at the grassroots. We’ll have to promote them and evaluate them on the national stage. So, we’ll have to take our cultural practices even to the union level apart from the district and upazila level.”

The Prime Minister wished that the people of Bangladesh would be liberal with non-communal spirit.

GBDESK//