Unique and diverse cultural program held to promote social cohesion and pluralism in the country

Institute for Environment and Development (IED) organized highly sensitized and diversified cultural event styled Boichitrer Oikyatan (Unity in Diversity) on February 24, 2023 to promote social cohesion, and pluralism. It was held at the precinct of Bakultala, Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka. It was started with a very joyful environment in presence of Jayanto Chattopadhyay, cultural activist and Bibi Russel, artist and organizer with blowing balloons and opening song was echoed.

The event featured on speech of distinguished guests, recitation of poems, songs, dance and demonstration of martial art by adolescent girls. Around 500 audiences enjoyed the colorful event.

In the speech, Jayanto Chattopadhyay expressed his strong solidarity to promote unity in diversity. He sensitized the audiences to take part in the journey that IED has started. He called upon the audience to come together, held each other and create a peaceful environment.

Bibi Russel, an eminent artist and organizer said, our generation is becoming greedy as they only search for money and wealth. They are not interested to know about the country and its people which is dangerous for sound growth and living. This program could play an important role to change their mindset.

Thanking the host for organizing such a colorful and time-bound program, K M Khalid MP, Honorable State Minister, Ministry of Cultural Affairs and chief guest of the event said, this program aims at bringing all lives and nature into unity and nexus. The love, simplicity and hospitality of 50 ethnic communities has made our country unique and diverse. Our government always promotes peace, harmony and tolerance in society. From my part and our ministry, our door is always open for you. He was highly pleased to see this kind of exceptional and need-based program.

Jyoti Chattopadhya, Coordinator and Numan Ahmed Khan, Executive Director of IED gave welcome and concluding speech in the event respectively.

In this period, adolescent girls from Kalyapur slum showcased martial art performance that created high impression to the audiences of girls building confidence for self-defense.

Difference cultural groups like transgender community from Mymensingh, Koch IP community from Sherpur, Lokrong group from Brahmanbaria, Santal artist from Narayangonj and individual performers from different community made the program joyful. They sensitized and enthralled the audience through spellbound performance and to create strong bondage and fraternity among the different ethnicities, races, casts, creeds, and gender.

Among others, Shantanu Majumder, Professor of Political Science, Dhaka University; Sanjeeb Drong, General Secretary of Bangladeshi Adivasi Forum; Kamal Uddin Kabir, Convener of the event and Professor of Jagannath University; Pavel Partha, Researcher and Columnist; Hochimin Islam, Transgender Community spoke in the event highlighting the importance of unity in diversity.