State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid on Friday said that Uttara, one of Dhaka's planned towns, is being developed as a ‘cultural city’ inside Dhaka.
The process of transferring 41 katha of land from the Uttara 3rd phase project to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs on behalf of RAJUK is currently in its final stages.
In the designated area, an exquisite cultural complex will be built, complete with contemporary auditoriums, movie theatres, libraries, museums, exhibition spaces, and other facilities for engaging in all forms of culture.
The state minister delivered these remarks on Friday at the BSCIC Training Institute (former SCITI) auditorium in the capital’s Uttara as the chief guest of the opening ceremony of the two-day (October 6-7) cultural festival celebrating the 19th anniversary of Gitanjali Lalitakala Academy (Gitanjali Academy of Fine Arts).
The chief guest said that Gitanjali Lalitkala Academy is leading the cultural movement and awakening of the Uttara region. He lauded the leader and lifeblood of this organization Mahbub Amin Mithu, who has been taking it forward with sincere works and efforts despite various crises and obstacles over the past 19 years.
The junior minister assured to take necessary steps including issuing a semi-official letter to the Minister of Industries for the renovation of the auditorium of the BSCIC Training Institute (former SCITI) to facilitate cultural practices.
Mahbub Amin Mithu, founder president of Gitanjali Lalitkala Academy, presided over the event which was chaired by prominent painter and emeritus professor of Dhaka University and advisor of Gitanjali Lalitkala Academy Hashem Khan.
The 'Gitanjali Sammanna Padak-2023' will be awarded on Saturday for significant contribution to education, art, literature and culture of the country. This year’s award recipients are - former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University and President of Bangladesh National Museum Council Professor Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, eminent cultural personality M Hamid and eminent painter Professor Jamal Ahmed.
Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md Atiqul Islam is scheduled to hand over the awards as the chief guest of the concluding ceremony on Saturday.
