The National Committee on the Conference of Cultural Diversity Ministerial Forum of the Asia-Pacific Region held a preparatory meeting ahead of the conference on Tuesday.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith, also convenor of the National Committee, presided over the meeting at National Economic Council conference room.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate as the chief guest the conference to be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre from May 9 to 11.
The meeting said, so far, 32 out of 43 countries have confirmed of joining the conference.
Bangladesh will provide air tickets to the representatives of 22 underdeveloped countries, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, Mongolia, Maldives, Laos, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Nepal and Papua New Guinea, for attending the programme.
The cost of the programme has been estimated at Tk 3.55 crore.
Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Muhammad Faruk Khan, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, State Minister for Cultural Affairs Culture Promod Mankin and Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, among others, attended the meeting.