[🇧🇩] Cultural Affairs

[Saif]

Source: https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/budget-2024-25-govt-allocates-tk-778-billion-for-cultural-affairs

Budget 2024-25: Govt allocates Tk 7.78 billion for cultural affairs
Published :
Jun 06, 2024 22:31
Updated :
Jun 06, 2024 22:31

In the proposed 2024–25 financial year budget, Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali proposed an allocation of Tk 7.78 billion (778.86 crore) for the Ministry of Cultural Affairs on Thursday.

The proposed budget is Tk 800.1 million (80.01 crore) more than the proposed budget of Tk 6.98 billion (698.85 crore) for the last fiscal year 2023-2024, and Tk 140 million (14 crore) more than the revised budget of the last financial year, which was finalised at Tk 7.64 billion (764.16 crore), reports UNB.

In his budget speech, the Finance Minister said the government was working to preserve the non-communal democratic heritage of Bangali culture and the creative development of the national language, literature, art, music, drama, and other fine arts.

Development of indigenous culture and cultural heritage, Liberation War consciousness and research, display and exhibition, publication, identification-excavation-renovation-preservation and display of archaeological specimens, copyright preservation of creative works, commemoration of the Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day on February 21, the Amar Ekushey Boimela 2025 and Ekushey Padak 2025, the historic March 7, and the Pahela Baishakh regular funds are being allocated.

Financial assistance is being provided to cultural activists and cultural institutions every financial year, he said in his budget speech. Through the application of information technology, digital preservation and management of films have been introduced in place of traditional methods, he added.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Bilal9]

Interesting opinion by Asif Nazrul on difference between Rabindra and Nazrul as inspiration for Bangladesh and cultural hegemony.

 

[Bilal9]

Recently Dhaka hosted a few Art expositions, showcasing some talented artists from Dhaka's vibrant art scene, which is unique in South Asia, in its acceptance of local art forms in a conservative Muslim country. Instagram links below will give forumers some idea of what is going on in Dhaka...

 

[Bilal9]

An exceptional art exhibition titled 'Rebellion through Satire' is underway at Alliance Française in Dhanmondi. Organized by the popular social media satire page E-Archi, this exhibition presents satirical depictions of past authoritarian governments' actions and statements. How satire can become a tool of protest is being presented to the visitors.

 

[Bilal9]

Writ filed in High Court to permanently stop Mangal Shobhajatra​

The writ petition states that the matter is against the freedom of religion guaranteed in the Constitution.
https://bangla.dhakatribune.com/101299


Mangal procession in Dhaka on Bengali New Year/File photo/Dhaka Tribune

Tribune Desk

Published: 05 April 2026, 05:26 PM
Update: 05 April 2026, 05:29 PM

A writ petition has been filed in the High Court seeking a permanent ban on the Mangal Shobhajatra held on the first day of Baishakh. The petition seeks an order to restrain the defendants from organizing, promoting, approving or conducting the Mangal Shobhajatra in any way.

On Sunday (April 5), Supreme Court lawyer Md. Mahmudul Hasan filed this writ petition in public interest.

He said he filed the writ petition fearing that the faith, religious freedom, constitutional rights, and communal harmony of the country's majority Muslim population would be severely damaged.

The writ petition has named the Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, the Secretary of the Ministry of Religion, the Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Dhaka Deputy Commissioner (DC), the Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University (DU), and the Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts as respondents.

The lawyer said, "The Bangladesh government sometimes changes the name of this procession, and then returns to the name 'Mangal Shobhajatra'. Therefore, a writ petition has been filed in the High Court for a final resolution to this issue."

The writ petition states that the Mangal Shobhajatra is not an ancient Bengali tradition. Rather, it is a newly created and artificial event that started in 1989 under the name "Ananda Shobhajatra", which was later renamed and strategically linked to the original culture of Pahela Baishakh.

The writ further states that carrying large-scale portraits of birds, fish and animals to pray for "good fortune" or "well-being" is completely against Islamic beliefs and faith. Because Muslims can only pray for good fortune or well-being from Allah.

Imposing this newly created and artificial program under state sponsorship is completely illegal, which is contrary to the freedom of religion guaranteed in Article 41 of the Constitution.

The petitioner further said, "In addition to the fact that the faith of the Muslim majority population has been hurt, the country's communal harmony, public safety, and national stability are under serious threat."
-----------------------------------------------------------------

For those interested in a TLDR,

The proponents of Hindu culture in Bangladesh wanting to soften and reduce the impact of Islamic influences in Bangladeshi society had created this scheme to popularize marching with Hindu-inspired animal symbols, and spread the acceptability of such norms - which is banned in Islam.

The writ petition filed in one of the Bangladesh High Courts seeking a permanent ban on these processions is a move to reduce the efforts of Hindutva cultural proponents within Bangladeshi society who masquerade as "educated progressives" and "atheists".

To wit - The owl (as shown in the photo of the procession above) is a cultural symbol associated with the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, who is revered as the deity of wealth, fortune, and prosperity.

In Bangladesh society which is overwhelmingly majority Muslim, such Hindu symbolism is a forced effort (by Indian Govt. per long known evidence) to dilute Islam's influence in Bangladesh and make Bangladeshis less Muslim and closer to Hindu culture.