PM for cultural movement for war crimes trial
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)
DHAKA, July 2 (BSS) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged for fostering a strong cultural movement to mould public opinion for the trial of war criminals.
"We have taken the war criminals to the court of justice and the whole nation including the new generation are united for their trial. Cultural activists can help forge public opinion for the trial," she said.
"War criminals' trail has begun and no conspiracy would work to foil the trial," she said adding, "like the war criminals, one day their patrons would also be subject of hatred of people."
The Prime Minister was inaugurating the National Drama Festival on Liberation War organized by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy at its auditorium this afternoon.
She expressed her government's firm resolve for continued support to the cultural activists saying achievements came in all national movements in the past when cultural activists joined their hand.
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy organized the 13-day festival with the support of Group Theatre Federation under the theme "40 years of Independence and War of Liberation in light of the art and culture."
Minister for Information and Cultural Affairs Abul Kalam Azad presided over the inaugural function while State Minister for Cultural Affairs Advocate Promode Mankin, Cultural Affairs Secretary Suriya Begum, President of International Group Theatre Federation Ramendu Majumder and Director General of the academy Liakat Ali Lucky spoke among others on the occasion.
Noted actress Ferdousi Majumder presented 'Uttariya' to the Prime Minister while Liakat Ali Lucky presented 'Festival Memento'.
The Prime Minister said despite constraint of resources her government would provide all support of her government for flourishing the talents of the cultural activists as it is being provided for education and sports.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the Liberation War is a pride for the whole nation. But, anti-liberation forces and their supporters are making their relentless efforts to distort the real history to tarnish the image of the nation.
She hoped that the Drama Festival, where dramas of new generation writers would come prominently would be able to depict the real history of our freedom struggle, valor of our freedom fighters and sacrifice of the nation particularly women for independence.
Sheikh Hasina said, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman established the Shilpakala Academy in 1974 for promotion and preservation of local culture, heritage and values. Bangabandhu had nurtured many dreams of the academy, but the anti-liberation forces shattered the dream, she said.
The Prime Minister said everybody should take initiative to preserve the history and heritage of the war of liberation as well as to motivate the children, juvenile and youths with the spirit of liberation war and national culture.
She urged all institutions engaged in flourishing education, literature and culture including the Shilpakala Academy to play a pioneering role in this regard.
Sheikh Hasina expressed the hope that the Shilpakala Academy would take new projects to inspire the future generation with the spirit of the liberation war so that they are motivated to build a hunger and poverty free, prosperous, peaceful and non- communal Bangladesh.
She said Bangladesh after achieving independence has emerged with its national entity amidst global arena. Country's drama and arts are now being acclaimed globally as well as the children's drama gained much reputation, she said.
The Prime Minister mentioned that after assuming power in 1996, her government established the national theater at the Shilpakala Academy and started the work for constructing the national music and dance center. The construction of the music and dance center has already been completed while that of the national art gallery is nearing completion, she added.
