Shun bad elements of satellite culture: President

Desk Report: President M Abdul Hamid has called upon all to be cautious about the harmful elements of satellite culture accepting all the good things alone which are available through the modern age technology.

He said, "Satellite culture is now a reality in the era of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) . . . But everyone has to accept all good things, shun the bad ones and particularly which harms our own rich culture."

The President said this while addressing a function at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) on Thursday, on the occasion of Shilpakala Padak 2016 distribution.

President Hamid also asked all concerned, specially the cultural activists, to continue their relentless efforts to spread the country's long cultural heritage across the world through the satellite culture.

He hoped that artists and cultural personalities would play a very significant role in building a creative Bangladesh and flourishing country's local culture and heritage. He also underscored the need for applying arts and culture to build a knowledge-based society saying, "Culture is the mirror of life . . . Arts and culture is the shadow of a country and a nation."

The President said that the arts and culture played an important role to bring discipline, nationalism, the spirit of patriotism and tradition of cultural harmony among the youth.

Recalling the contribution of cultural personalities in different crisis moments, including the Language Movement and the Liberation War, with respect, he said a successful cultural activist is like a mobile ambassador and he or she can present a country or a nation in global arena through his or her presence, talent and works.

About global terrorism and militancy, the President said, "Militancy and terrorist activities make world's people concerned, but no religion supports militancy and terrorism."

He asked all to inspire the children, teenagers and youths with the spirit of Liberation War and non-communalism so that they keep them away from the 'poison vapor' of fanaticism, communalism, terrorism and militancy.

The President also distributed Shilpakala Padak 2016 to seven cultural personalities in seven categories. They are: Pabitra Mohan Dey in instrumental music, Md Golam Mostafa Khan in dance, Golam Mustafa in photography, Kalidas Karmaker in fine arts, Sirajuddin Pathan in folk culture, Syed Jamil Ahmed in dramatics and Mita Haque in music.

Congratulating the Shilpakala Padak winners, the President said: "You are celebrities, stars and idols...common people, particularly young generation, like to follow you. So, you have responsibility to them too." He urged the award winners to play their due role to present the existing social problems and work to prevent corruption and establish good governance, justice and religious values apart from presentation of the country's history and tradition.

Abdul Hamid also enjoyed a cultural function after the award giving ceremony there.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, Cultural Affairs Secretary M Ibraheem Hosein Khan and Shilpakala Academy Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky, among others, spoke at the function.

Source: BSS

 

risingbd/Dhaka/July 20, 2017/A K Azad