India-Bangladesh Meeting on Cultural Cooperation

Theatre (Arambagh) staged “Jonmoshutro” on April 10 at the Experimental Theatre Hall. The play was staged as part of the weeklong Syed Badruddin Hossain Theatre Festival, organised by Padatik Natya Sangsad (TSC), that ends today. “Jonmoshutro” was written and directed by Gazi Rakayet. Photo: Mumit M.

Secretary level discussions on India-Bangladesh cooperation in the field of culture was held in New Delhi on April 7, 2011. The Indian delegation was led by Jawhar Sircar, secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India and the Bangladesh delegation was led by Suraiya Begum, secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of Bangladesh, according to a press release.
India and Bangladesh share close historical, cultural and ethnic links. The cultural agreement between the two countries was first signed in Dhaka in December, 1972. The India-Bangladesh Cultural Agreement covers a range of areas of cooperation including art, mass-media (TV, radio, films and press), sports, archaeology, museums, libraries/archives and educational activities. The objectives enshrined in the cultural agreement are realised through the Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP).
The current Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 2010-12 between India and Bangladesh was signed on January 11, 2010 in New Delhi in the presence of the Prime Ministers of the two countries when the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina paid a state visit to India. One of the significant agreements was to jointly celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore.
At the recent discussions, the two sides highlighted the common cultural heritage of the two countries and emphasised the need to build on these shared links. The areas of discussion were: monuments and archaeology; museums and visual arts; national science museums; films and media; library and archives; performing arts; joint nominations of Intangible Cultural Heritage for UNESCO and joint commemorations of the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore.
Tagore's 150th birth anniversary celebration in Bangladesh will open on May 6, 2011 in Dhaka, with participation of an Indian VVIP and artistes. The celebration in India will kick off on May 7, 2011 in New Delhi, with participation of a Bangladeshi VVIP and artistes.