Prime Minister Khaleda Zia will inaugurate the 17-day exhibition at Osmani Memorial Auditorium at 12:00 noon.

The participating countries include Algeria, Australia, Bahrain, Bhutan, China, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippine, Qatar, Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, Vietnam, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

A total of 633 artworks of 375 artists of the participating countries will be put on display at Osmani Memorial Auditorium, National Museum and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy during the exhibition.

Some 214 artworks of 185 artists of host Bangladesh are among the 633 artworks.

This year, the jury consists of five members. They are Prof Ali Akai of Turkey, Prof Gholam Hossain Babai of Iran, Prof Gholam Mohommad Sheikh of India and artist Prof Murtaja Baseer and art critic Mijarul Quays of Bangladesh.

Three artworks will receive the Grand Prize, carrying Tk 1 lakh, on the recommendation of the jury.

As part of the exhibition, Shilpakala Academy will organise a two-day international seminar, titled "Duality in Asian Art -- The Ethnic and the Global" at its premises, beginning tomorrow. Eminent artists from home and abroad will take part in the seminar.