Culture is a reflection of human life. And it is through culture that the country and nation come up with their own identity and personal characteristics in the court of the world, said Planning Minister MA Mannan. Post and Telecommunication Minister Mustafa Jabbar urged all the cultural organizations of the country to come forward to develop the Bengali language and folk culture through digital media and social media.
The minister made this call at a program titled Greater Mymensingh’s Contribution to National Folk culture at the three-day long Greater Mymensingh Cultural Festival on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the forum organized by Greater Mymensingh Cultural Forum at IDEB Bhaban in Dhaka on Saturday.
While speaking as the chief guest, the Planning Minister said that the Greater Mymensingh region, rich in Haor Baor, rivers, forests and Garo Hills, is an endless treasure of Bengal’s folk culture. He urged all concerned to contribute to the development of folk literature of Bengal by spreading this folk culture.
On the other hand, the President of the Greater Mymensingh Cultural Forum, the Posts and Telecommunication Minister Mustafa Jabba joined the digital platform as the main speaker and said that the region-based folk culture of different areas of Bangladesh is our most valuable asset. The objective of Greater Mymensingh Cultural Forum is to develop the folk culture, folklore or folk literature of Greater Mymensingh region as well as to continue efforts to present the folk culture, folklore or folk literature of the entire Bangladesh to the world.
Since taking charge as the President of the Greater Mymensingh Forum since 2015, the Minister highlighted the programs undertaken by the forum to highlight the folk culture of Bengal as a resource of world folk literature, including the publication of the second and third reprints of Mymensingh Gitika, the reprinting of East Bengali Gitika.
He said that Dinesh Chandra Sen’s role in the history of Bengali literature, Bengali folk literature, Punthi still inspires many researchers. He introduced the mainstream literature of Bengal with the stream of literature flowing even among the backward illiterate people of the village. Greater Mymensingh, especially the ancient life of the Haor region flowing from the foothills of the Garo Hills, is brought out in the Gantha Mymensingh hymns. It has literary value as well as its close connection with history and tradition. Jari-Sari, Bhawaya-Bhatiyali, Baul song, Pala song, Punthipatha are associated with Bengali self-identity. They should be practiced to protect this ancient wealth of Bengali. The minister mentioned that Greater Mymensingh Cultural Forum is doing this work with utmost sincerity.
Greater Mymensingh Cultural Forum Senior Vice President Dr. Engineer Md. Mozaffar Hossain, MP, Justice Md. Jahangir Hossain and Professor Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque spoke on the occasion. Md. Zafar Uddin. Greater Mymensingh Cultural Forum presided over the event. General Secretary Rashedul Hasan Shelly conducted the program.
On March 18, 2023, His Excellency the President inaugurated the 30th anniversary celebration program as the chief guest at the National Museum auditorium in Dhaka. The program was chaired by the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications.