Celebration for Dhaka as Islamic cultural capital starts today
PM to inaugurate it
Dhaka will celebrate the declaration of 'Capital of Islamic Culture of the Asian Region for 2012' through yearlong cultural programmes beginning today.
Earlier this year, Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) declared Dhaka as the Asian Islamic cultural capital because of its rich Islamic heritage.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will formally open the three-day inaugural programme in Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city at 9:30am.
State-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar will broadcast the inaugural function of the yearlong programmes live. The programmes will show the country's cultural and Islamic heritage.
Joint programmes of the Cultural Affairs Ministry and the ISESCO would be held in phases from July to November this year, said a senior official at the ministry.
The programmes will include national symposiums on Islamic thinkers, cultural tourism workshop with the participation of members in Asian region, exhibition of Dhaka's best traditional artworks, foods, calligraphy, book fair, open discussion on Islamic heritage, regional training course, and drama on Islamic heritage.
Marking the occasion, the ministry of culture will also organise photo and video exhibition on historic Muslim establishments, calligraphy exhibition and Sufi songs while Islamic Foundation will organise recitation from the Holy Quran.
Senior officials of the ministry have visited the ISESCO headquarters in Rabat in Morocco in this regard.
The visit was part of the coordination meeting between ISESCO and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Bangladesh to review the celebration programme of Dhaka as the Asian region's capital of Islamic culture for 2012.
The celebration falls within the ten-year programme approved by the fourth Islamic Conference of Cultural Affairs Ministers held in Algiers in November 2004 on the celebration of capitals of Islamic culture.
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