State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas on Wednesday unveiled the recently renovated Mughal Hammam Khana at the Lalbagh Fort in Old Dhaka.  Inaugurated in March 2021, this two-year initiative, funded through the US Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), supported the $185,933 (Tk 2 crore) projects for restoration and architectural documentation of the Mughal Hammam Khana, one of three primary structures at the Lalbagh Fort complex dating back to the 17th century. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the “Restoring, Retrofitting, and 3D Architectural Documentation of Historical Mughal-era Hammam Khana at Lalbagh Fort,” Ambassador Haas said promoting cultural diversity, supporting freedom of expression, and preserving cultural heritage around the world are priorities for the United States.  “All of us must work together and protect the richness of our cultural heritage for future generations,” he said. Read more: ‘Our Shared Cultural Heritage’ project connecting youth with heritage The Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) is among the U.S. government’s most significant cultural initiatives abroad.  In the past 20 years, the United States has supported 11 AFCP projects in Bangladesh at a total value of over $576,000 (Tk 6 crore) to preserve and restore its cultural heritage and patrimony.  

State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid for a second time has tested positive for Covid-19. The Minister submitted samples at the Government Employees Hospital and received a positive report after RT-PCR covid test on Tuesday, said a media release. Earlier on January 27, Khalid and his wife Dr Shohela Aktar tested positive for Covid-19. Also Read: State Minister Khalid, wife contract Covid

The Bangladesh National Museum Bill, 2022 was passed in parliament on Thursday to make the country's museums more dynamic and vibrant. State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid moved the Bill in the House and it was passed by voice vote. Read:Bill placed in JS to bring discipline in private medical, dental colleges The Bangladesh National Museum Bill, 2022 has replaced the1983 ordinance in this regard. The highest punishment for museum-related crimes is 10 years’ jail, Tk 10 lakh fine or both as per the proposed law which would be applicable for other museums alongside the National Museum.

The Bangladesh National Archive Bill, 2021 was placed in Parliament on Sunday having a provision that no record can be destroyed. The bill was brought to replace the National Archive Ordinance, 1983 in line with a High Court judgment. Read: 40 collect AL nomination papers for JS by-elections State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid placed the Bill and it was sent to the respective Parliamentary Standing Committee for further examination. The committee was asked to submit its report within 30 days. The provision of destroying any record has been dropped from the proposed law. So, no record stored in the archive can be destroyed. The soft copies of classified documents will have to be stored in Kaliakoir Data Centre after a certain period of time. There will be a 17 member advisory council for three years for the National Archives and its director general will be appointed by the government. Read:Speaker announces 5-member JS panel of chairmen As per the proposed law, National Archives will provide records to any individual upon application and providing applicable fees. Regarding sending any file, which is above 75 years old and has historical, cultural and literature value, to abroad, it is needed to take permission from the Director General. If the DG thinks that this will go against the country then the DG could deny to give permission. The aggrieved person can apply to the government within 14 days of informing him officially and the decision of the government is final. Read:JS mourns death of two sitting MPs, ex-minister and personalities If anyone temper or destroy or erase or hack any file of the Archive that person will be imprisoned for three years or fined Tk 20000 . If anyone take any file from the Archive illegally, smuggle it abroad or take outside the Archive building with ill intension, that person will be imprisoned for five years or fined Tk one lakh.  

Marking the Golden Jubilee of the historic 7th March speech delivered by the country’s founding president and the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at  what is now the Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka, noted socio-cultural organisations arranged various virtual and offline programmes on Saturday.

The 7th edition of Dhaka International Conference on Women in Cinema at the 19th Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) concluded on Monday at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA).

Noted heritage and craft researcher, folk enthusiast and author Maleka Khan’s new book titled ‘Jamdani: A World Class Tradition of Bangladesh’ was nunveiled at Bangladesh National Museum on Monday.

The 5th edition of Dhaka Art Summit (DAS), known as South Asia’s biggest art and painting biennale exhibition, was inaugurated at the National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) on Friday.

South Asia’s biggest art and painting biennale exhibition, Dhaka Art Summit (DAS)’s 5th edition will begin at National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) on Friday (February 7).

Dhaka, Aug 25 (UNB) – A six-day documentary film and project show begins in the city on Monday for the third time to promote independent filmmakers, directors and producers of the South Asian countries.