Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday directed officials to take steps to promote Bangladesh’s culture and heritage among the younger generation and encourage children to read books.
“Our culture is thousands of years old, but we may not be presenting it properly to our younger generation,” he said during a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
Tarique said technology is drawing young people towards foreign cultures and exposing them to new things, but this should not lead them to forget their own culture.
“We need to think about how to present our culture and heritage more effectively to the younger generation,” he added.
He also stressed the need to build reading habits among children.
The Prime Minister asked officials to consider using mobile libraries to bring books to children and arrange reading circles and book-reading competitions.
The prime minister visited the ministry as part of his regular programme and discussed its ongoing activities and future plans.
Officials briefed him on programmes planned for the Lalon festival, Nazrul Year and a winter cultural festival scheduled from December to May.
The winter festival is planned to feature circus, folk culture, boat races, kite festivals, horse racing, puppet shows and other cultural events, including programmes for people with special needs.
Representatives of the July Museum, Department of Archaeology, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh National Museum, Bangla Academy, National Book Centre and other agencies under the ministry also presented their activities and future plans.
Tarique asked officials to take steps to make the Shilpakala academies more active.
Addressing the officials, he said everyone had skills and should work to the best of their ability.
“If we all make our best efforts, we can build at least some of the country we want to see. We have an opportunity to do something for the country, and we should make use of it,” the prime minister said.
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.