Kathmandu - State Minister for Cultural Affairs of the Government of Bangladesh Mr. K.M. Khalid, MP and Ambassador Mr. Ghanshyam Bhandari jointly inaugurated this evening the cultural programme, organized by the Embassy in collaboration with Bangladesh-Nepal Friendship Society at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
The programme featured 16 cultural performances including traditional dances, folk songs, and musical performances by artists from both Nepal and Bangladesh. Nepali artists showcased traditional music and cultural dance forms including Sorathi, Kaura, Mithila, and Tamang Selo while the artists from Bangladesh also staged traditional and folk dances and musical performances.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Mr. Ghanshyam Bhandari shed light on the objectives of the cultural programme and underscored the role of art and culture in strengthening friendship and understanding between the two countries.
Chief Guest of the event, Mr. K.M. Khalid, MP, highlighted the civilizational linkages between Nepal and Bangladesh and stressed the importance of preserving and promoting art and culture for a healthy society.
Mr. Ghulam Kuddus, President of the Combined Cultural Alliance of Bangladesh, Mr. Padma Raj Dhakal, Chancellor of Pokhara Academy, Mr. Moshiur Ahmed, President of Bangladesh-Nepal Friendship Society, and Mr. Salahuddin Ahmed Secretary of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy also spoke during the event.
The culture programme is a part of the five-day-long Nepal-Bangladesh Art and Cultural Festival 2023 organized from 14-18 March to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Nepal and Bangladesh.
The event was attended by over 450 guests including diplomats, artists, scholars, students, and people from all walks of life.
The Festival also includes a five-day-long painting and photography exhibition wherein a total of 52 artworks of 33 Nepali artists and over 80 artworks of 50 Bangladeshi artists are on display at the National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.