Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury on Monday said the country’s Pohela Baishakh celebration is deeply rooted in farmers’ culture and expressed hope that the nation’s lost glory can be restored.
“Pohela Baishakh celebration is essentially rooted in farmers’ culture. People of this country did not go abroad to change their fate. Rather, tourists and sages from different countries came here. But due to various historical reasons, we have fallen far behind. This will be restored,” he said.
He made the remarks as chief guest on the opening day of a five-day programme organised by the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy to mark Chaitra Sankranti and Bangla Nababarsha.
The minister said the country can regain its lost glory through proper leadership. “We believe that if we can provide proper leadership, we will be able to recover our lost glory. We can again stand tall as the best in South Asia,” he said.
On the first day, he inaugurated an exhibition of Bangladeshi folk art at the academy’s National Art Gallery building.
He later attended Chaitra Sankranti programmes at the academy’s open stage.
Speaking about Pohela Baishakh arrangements, he said various programmes have been undertaken to celebrate the occasion.
