Announcing this at a press conference yesterday, DCC Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka MP said many children in the city cannot flourish their talent due to lack of infrastructure facilities.

"We are eager to provide those facilities to them along side their education so that they can become worthy citizens," he added.

Khoka said the schools will be set up at Dhaka Mohanagar Mohila College at Laxmibazar, Haji Zumman Community Centre at ward no 68, Mughdapara Afiruddin Sardar Community Centre at ward no 29, Paltan Community Centre at ward no 36 and Mirpur Town Hall at ward no three.

The schools will provide a two-year course on music, dance and musical instruments for the children aged between six and 12, he added.

Khoka said the DCC has already recruited 30 teachers for the schools where children from lower to upper class families will get the opportunity for admission.

He said leading cultural personalities like Bulbul Lalitkala Academy General Secretary Amanullah Chowdhury, singers Syed Abdul Hadi, Rafiqul Alam, Subir Nandi, Dr Arup Ratan Chowdhury, Rahiza Khanom Jhunu, Abida Sultana, Fatema-Tuz-Zohora, and Rehana Siddique were involved in selecting the teachers. They will also supervise the schools.

He said the admission fee has been fixed at Tk 50 while the monthly tuition fee at Tk 10 so that all interested can avail the opportunity. The classes will be held twice a week.

The mayor said the DCC has also a plan to set up such schools in each ward of the city depending on the successes of these schools.

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan will formally inaugurate the schools at a function at Mohanagar Natya Mancha on April 2.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs Begum Selima Rahman will attend the function as special guest.

Amanullah Chowdhury, Syed Abdul Hadi, Dr Arup Ratan Chowdhury, Rahiza Khanom Jhunu, Fatema-Tuz- Zohora and senior DCC officials were present on the occasion.