Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said there should be regular contests in different cultural fields to create a sustainable platform for the filmmakers, photographers and lyricists.
He made the observation in his address as chief guest at the award-giving ceremony of ‘Celebrating Life,’ a film, photograph and lyrics contest.
“I hope the competition will be organised every year so that there’s a sustainable platform for the filmmakers, photographers and lyricists to present their ideas and innovations,” Fakhruddin said.
The first of its kind, the competition was organised by The Daily Star and Standard Chartered Bank in partnership with radio foorti, bangladeshinfo.com, Channel i and Shaptahik 2000.
New talents from across the country took part in the competition arranged to encourage the creative people and provide them with opportunity to tap their potentials.
Congratulating winners, the CA expressed hope that they would contribute sustainability in their fields and make the nation proud. Fakhruddin handed cash, trophies and certificates to the new talents.
He congratulated the organisers for the talent-spotting contest and said it is a unique initiative to showcase Bangladesh in a positive light.
“In a developing country like ours,” he said, “we greatly need the patronage and support of the private sector to push forward our cultural advancement and to welcome the new faces.”
Terming lyricists the most creative professionals, Fakhruddin said when it comes to recognition and status they are the most deprived all over the world. Regular competitions would offer the budding lyricists an opportunity to show off their work, he added.
The CA said he believes most of the winners in the lyrics competition would have never come to the limelight without the celebrating life contest. “They would for sure be deprived of opportunities to work with established musicians and artistes.”
Photography is another field which does not receive the attention it deserves. “Celebrating life has offered a stage to dozens of photographers to gain name for what they are good at,” he observed.
The film industry, in his view, is still tottering though the history of filmmaking in Bangladesh is quite old.
In his address of welcome, Editor of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam said economic development is very important, and cultural advancement is no less important than that.
“Many of us forget to celebrate the successes of the country. We are not doing justice to the areas where we have successes,” he said, adding, “The Daily Star and Standard Chartered Bank have got together to celebrate the strides.”
Citing an example of the power of lyrics, he said, “It’s amazing how a song [Joi Bangla Banglar Joi], just a song gave the people a new sense of confidence. But we don’t say much of our cultural development.”
He said, “Through this competition, we present new talents in three areas of our cultural world.”
CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Osman Morad said the bank was trying to contribute to the development of Bangladesh in various ways. Thanking The Daily Star for making them a part of the competition, he assured of more cooperation to continue celebration of life in future.
Jury members Tareq Masud (film), M Rafiquzzaman (lyrics) and Anwar Hossain (photography) announced names of the winners.
Cultural Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury and a host of cultural luminaries and renowned personalities were present on the occasion.
Categories: Bangla, Bangladesh, Bangladesh News, Daily Bangladesh News, News
