Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma has underlined the deep cultural affinity between the two countries  as a source of strength for their relationship.

The High Commission of India and IGCC celebrated the 77th anniversary of the founding of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) as the “ICCR Day” on Friday on the IGCC premises in Gulshan, to mark the enduring cultural partnership between Bangladesh and India.

Speaking on the occasion, the High Commissioner highlighted the role of ICCR in fostering a vibrant cultural dialogue between the two countries.

He described ICCR as the ‘cultural heartbeat’ of Indian diplomacy, fostering cultural dialogues transcending borders.

The event included an art camp by ICCR alumni and senior artists of Bangladesh and a special cultural programme with musical, dance and yoga performances by IGCC students and ICCR alumni from Bangladesh.

Acclaimed singer and ICCR scholar Priyanka Gope of Dhaka University presented a special performance of Rabindra Sangeet and classical songs.

Marking the occasion, the High Commissioner also inaugurated a two-day art camp — “Sampriti” —  hosted by IGCC, which brought together over thirty celebrated artists and ICCR scholars from Bangladesh including luminaries like Farida Zaman, Jamal Ahmed, Md. Eunus, Nissar Hossain and Ranjit Das.

The art works created by them during the camp will be displayed publicly at a two-week art exhibition at IGCC scheduled to be inaugurated on April 30, said the High Commission on Saturday.

During the event, the High Commissioner also paid heartfelt tributes to senior artist and ICCR scholar from Bangladesh, Tarun Ghosh, who had accepted the invitation to join the art camp Sampriti, but tragically passed away on April 9.