Increase budgetary allocation for cultural ministry

Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad speaks at a roundtable on 'Culture of budget: Budget for culture' at National Press Club in the city yesterday. On his right are Nasiruddin Yousuf and Mafidul Haque and on his left is Ramendu Majumder.Photo: STAR

Speakers at a roundtable yesterday urged the government to increase budgetary allocation for the cultural ministry and incorporate concerned stakeholders while preparing any project of the ministry to help flourish culture in the country.
Culture is the mirror of an ethnicity and it gives individuals an anchoring point, a sense of belonging and, thus, an identity, but the ministry of cultural affairs always gets the lowest budget, they said, urging the authorities concerned to change this mindset.
The speakers demanded steps to create a scope for the cultural groups and organisations to use the government auditoriums and other structures with a reasonable cost.
Sammilita Sangskritik Jote organised the roundtable titled 'Culture of budget: Budget for culture' at the National Press Club in the city.
Theatre personality and International Theatre Institute (ITI) President Ramendu Majumder said less than one percent of the total budget is allocated for the cultural ministry which is needed to increase immediately.
There are many big structures in the country, but those structures are not maintained properly due to lack of adequate finance and manpower, he said, adding, “We want more budgetary allocation and the opportunity to use the government structures at a reasonable cost.”
Cultural personality Syed Hasan Imam stressed the need for a cultural policy, saying that there is a scope for the government to control the cultural arena if there is no policy.
A cultural revolution is a must to build a new secular and progressive nation, he said, laying emphasis on folk culture which needs patronisation to bring a change in the people's mindset.
Noted writer Syed Shamsul Huq said there should be only one cultural policy in the country so that the government cannot have any control on culture.
There are hundreds of cultural groups or organisations in the country which basically run on grants, voluntary donations and advertisements, he said, urging the government to take necessary steps so that these organisations do not depend on grants or donations rather they become self-reliant.
Speaking as the chief guest, Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad said, “We have to work from our own position to save the country's 1000-years-old culture and heritage.”
A cultural policy can be formulated and a committee also be formed to this end which will place the policy before the government, he said.
“All your demands deserve a special consideration, but it is not possible [to take all the proposals into account] at a time. I and my ministry are always with you and want to solve the problems with you,” he said.
The minister called on all to build a progressive social movement to fight fanaticism, terrorism and fundamentalism.
Reading out a keynote paper, Trustee of Liberation War Museum Mafidul Haque demanded the government increase five times the budgetary allocation for the cultural arena.
President of the Jote Nasiruddin Yousuf, General Secretary Golam Kuddus, CPB General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim, Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation Chairman M Hamid and cultural personality Pijush Bandyopadhyay also spoke.