A views-exchange meeting with the newly appointed Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), Additional Secretary (Administration) of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Abul Faiz Md Alauddin Khan, was held on Tuesday at the Experimental Theatre Hall of the National Theatre in the capital.

According to a ministry order issued on September 14, 2025, Abul Faiz Md Alauddin Khan was given the additional responsibility of serving as Director General of BSA alongside his current role. 

He succeeds noted theatre personality and academic Dr Syed Jamil Ahmed, who announced his resignation from the post on February 28, 2025. 

Following Dr Jamil Ahmed’s departure, BSA Secretary Mohammad Wares Hossain was handed charge as acting Director General on March 4, 2025, and he held the acting charge until the new appointment in mid-September 2025. 

Speaking at the meeting, the new DG stressed the importance of cultural practices in building harmony and resisting negative influences.

“As a national institution, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy plays a vital role in cultural practice across the country. Culture means nurturing aesthetics, fostering peace against unrest, and creating harmony by removing divisions among people," according to the new DG.

"An artist, through performance, touches people’s hearts and inspires them. If those working at Shilpakala Academy consider their roles not just as jobs but as a mission and vision combined, they can guide people away from decadence and towards cultural practice,” he said.

The meeting was attended by senior officials including Joint Secretary (Administration) of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Md Billal Hossain Khan; Deputy Secretary (Development and Planning Wing-2, with additional responsibility for Shilpakala Wing) Mausumi Sarker Rakhi; Director of Drama and Film Department of BSA Fayez Zahir; and President of the BSA Officers’ Welfare Association and Deputy Director (Finance) Sorkar Zia Uddin Ahmed.

It was conducted by Mohammad Jasim Uddin, Deputy Director of Drama and Film Department of BSA.

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On behalf of different departments, officials, artists and staff greeted the new Director General with floral tributes.

Among others, the meeting was attended by Director of Production Department Abdul Halim Chanchal; Director of Music, Dance and Recitation Department Mehzabeen Rahman; Director of Training Department AFM Nurur Rahman; Acting Director of Fine Arts Department Pradyot Kumar Das; Senior Instructor (Drama) of Training Department Dr Irene Parveen Lopa; Deputy Director of Music, Dance and Recitation Department Begum Shamima Akter Jahan; and Deputy Director of Administration GM Zakir Hossain.