Call to uphold, enrich culture and heritage

The Greater Mymensingh Cultural Forum yesterday honoured three personalities and conferred life membership on three others at a programme marking its 15th founding anniversary in the city yesterday. Sitting from left are Dr Ashraf Siddiqi, ASM Abdul Halim, Saiful Bari, Nirmalendu Goon and Ahmad Ali Rupai. Standing from left are M Hamid, SM Mohsin, Shamim Ara Nipa, Mahmud Sazzad, Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya and Rashedul Hasan Shelly.Photo: STAR

The Greater Mymensingh Cultural Forum yesterday honoured economists Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya and Anu Muhammad and The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam for their outstanding contribution to society and culture.
At a daylong programme celebrating its 15th founding anniversary, the Forum also conferred life membership on dance artiste Shamim Ara Nipa, actor SM Mohsin and the famed 'Rupai' character in 'Nakshi Kathar Math' Ahmad Ali Rupai.
The organisers presented crests to the six personalities at Shawkat Osman Auditorium of the Central Public Library in the city.
Noted litterateur and researcher Dr Ashraf Siddiqi inaugurated the celebrations, with Forum Chairman ASM Abdul Halim in the chair.
Mentioning the negative impact of foreign satellite culture on the young generation, Chief Adviser to ATN Bangla Saiful Bari, who was present as the chief guest, said it is high time to take the country's culture forward.
The media, especially the television channels, should take cautious steps in this regard to protect the future generations from the influence of alien culture, he said.
Expressing his gratitude for the award, Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, who was recently appointed permanent representative of Bangladesh to the UN in Geneva, said, "This award makes me feel that I now have a bigger social duty."
Speaking on the occasion, Mahfuz Anam stressed the need for upholding and enriching the culture and heritage of the country.
Lauding the activities of Greater Mymensingh Cultural Forum, he also stressed the need to honour people for their contribution to society and culture. "Their successes boost our confidence and encourage us to move forward."
The Forum leaders demanded that four dormitories of Kabi Nazrul University at Trishal be named after Shilapacharya Zainul Abedin, renowned litterateur, journalist and statesman of the sub-continent Abul Mansur Ahmad, Chandrabati and Hasan Hafizur Rahman, and the Science Bhaban be named after Osman Gani in recognition of their outstanding contribution.
Group Theatre Federation President M Hamid, Principal Hamida Ali, poet Nirmalendu Goon, Prof Golam Rahman and Prof Khondoker Ashraf Hossain of Dhaka University, artiste Mohammad Ali Siddiqi and Forum general secretary Rashedul Hasan Shelly also spoke.
Earlier, a painting competition for children and a get-together of senior and junior artistes were held.
At the concluding session, Bahubachan Theatre staged a drama titled 'Prem Bara Kobiraj', the translated version of 'Love is the best doctor' by Moliere.