United News of Bangladesh

Information and Broadcasting Minister Andaleeve Rahman on Tuesday  said the government has no intention of obstructing or disrupting cultural activities, while acknowledging that concerts and other cultural programmes may sometimes be cancelled over security concerns. “The cancellation of a concert does not necessarily mean that the government did not cooperate. There may have been security concerns there among other issues. We can find out about the matter by talking to the relevant ministry,” he said responding to a question from journalists at Secretariat over local religious leaders obstructing the organisation of cultural programmes in Brahmanbaria and Kishoreganj. The Information Minister said many concerts, including major events, are currently being held in Bangladesh and if there are security concerns at a particular venue, the matter has to be considered separately. “There is no mindset on the part of our government to obstruct or disrupt any cultural activity. We do not share such a view,” he said. The Information Minister said, “For the past 40-50 years, we have seen a group consistently engaging in such activities against various cultural programmes. Such incidents have occurred many times in Bangladesh. There is actually no reason to be worried about this.” He said Bangladesh is a country where people know how to live together and stand by one another. “Regardless of religion or ethnicity, we have a cultural coexistence among us. Some people overreact to such issues. That can happen. However, InshaAllah, the law will take its own course, and action will be taken in accordance with the law.”  “I believe that if you stay with us and the people of the country stay with us, we will be able to move forward properly,” he said. Besides, Prime Minister’s Adviser for Information and Broadcasting Dr Zahed Ur Rahman said Bangladesh has made significant, even “dramatic”, progress in cultural activities and other areas under the current government compared with the situation following August 5. “There are still incidents taking place. When a situation develops and certain groups become influential over a period of one and a half to two years, it is not possible to change everything overnight,” he said.He said he considered the progress made so far a major improvement and that efforts are underway to accelerate it. The adviser said the government is placing importance on expanding cultural activities and taking them to people across the country. He had held several meetings with the Prime Minister in his capacity as adviser on the Ministry of Culture on increasing and expanding cultural practices, said Zahed. “I doubt whether Bangladesh has ever had a Prime Minister who is as attentive and interested as him in spreading cultural activities,” he said.

The government has urged people to celebrate Christmas Day and 31st night on the eve of New Year on a very limited scale due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Home Ministry issued a notice in this regard on December 14. Read: PM witnesses enthralling cultural show on V-Day and Mujib Borsha celebrations All religious and social progremmes are being arranged on a very limited scale worldwide due to Covid, and the religious festivals of Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists were celebrated in Bangladesh on a limited scale maintaining health guidelines, said the notice.  It will be logical to celebrate Christmas and the 31st night on a limited scale and strictly maintain health guidelines instead of holding meetings, rallies and any kind of religious, social and cultural programmes. Read: Dazzling fireworks bring curtains down on DU's centenary celebrations The ministry also asked law enforcers and local administrations to maintain law and order and ensure health protocols across the country after holding meetings with the authorities concerned in the upazilas, districts and metropolitan cities if needed. It also asked the law enforcement agencies to strengthen security ahead of the events.

The Latin phrase, 'annus horribilis' (horrible year), aptly sums up the story of 2020, the last year of this decade.

Observing the National Mourning Day and 45th martyrdom anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman - Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) commemorated Bangabandhu and the martyrs of August 15 through various cultural programmes broadcast on its official Facebook page on Saturday.