'Poush-mela integral part of our culture'

Water Resources Minister Abdur Razzak yesterday called for upholding the culture and heritage of Bangalees, reports BSS.

He was speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function of a poush-mela at Ramna Batamul.

Poet Shamsur Rahman an journalist Abed Khan also spoke on the occasion, while actor Jamaluddin Hossain chaired it.

The minister said poush-mela, an inseparable part of the culture of Bangalees, is celebrated every winter with joy and festivity. But in the past, this fair could not be held due to the obstruction of the vested quarters who had long been engaged in jeopardising the spirit of the Liberation War and sovereign identity of the nation, he said.

He called upon all patriotic forces to come forward to resist the anti-liberation and fundamentalist forces.

Poet Shamsur Rahman called for turning the poush-mela into a cultural movement. He said that poush-mela and basanta utsab were introduced by Poet Rabindranath Tagore himself.