Dhaka Saarc cultural capital for 2016

Dhaka will be the "cultural capital" of Saarc for 2016 while Bamiyan in Afghanistan will be its first "cultural capital" for 2015 to host festivals on literature, films, foods and dances.

As the cultural capital of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation, Dhaka would also host a "cricket connect exhibition" to showcase relations regarding cricket, its glory and major achievements and other cricketing heritages of the member countries.

Joint Secretary of Indian Culture Ministry V Srinivas was talking to reporters while disclosing these first ever initiatives adopted under a "Delhi Resolution" at the Saarc Culture Ministers' conference held in New Delhi yesterday.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor also joined the summit.

Afghanistan would also host a "cricket connect exhibition" and an under-19 cricket match with India in 2015.

A proposal to establish a "SAARC Cultural Heritage Committee" was also adopted for preservation, maintenance, as well as digital mapping of historic sites in member countries.

The summit also agreed to launch a website to promote Saarc member countries' cultures, including digitisation of rare manuscripts, rare books and other articles of intangible cultural value, said Srinivas.