Discussion Stresses Urgent Need to Restore Dhaka’s Cultural Heritage

Speakers including activists, a writer and a researcher said on Saturday that Dhaka had been a hub for sports and cultural practice since ancient times and that the cultural heritage of the city needed to be restored.

They made the comment while speaking at a discussion titled Dhakaiya Galpa Dhakar Galpa as a part of an on-going solo art exhibition by Munem Wasif.

The exhibition titled Kromosho comprising photographs, a film and sculptures created over two decades by Bangladeshi photographer Munem Wasif.

Inaugurated on April 18, the event was organised by Bengal Shilpalay at its Quamrul Hassan Exhibition Hall.

Director of Dhaka Kendra Mohammad Azim Buksh, writer Akter Jahan, former teacher of St Gregory’s High School Ajay Sarkar, researcher Hashem Sufi and architect Rehnuma Tasnim Sheefa spoke at the discussion moderated by Munem Wasif.

Bengal Foundation director general Luva Nahid Choudhury delivered her welcome speech at the event.

Azim Buksh said that Dhaka was a hub for sports and cultural practice which bloomed every winter.

‘Old Dhaka has a strong tradition of staging drama in every area until 1970 and the North Brook Hall later known as Lalkuthi was the centre of theatre practice,’ Azim Buksh said, adding that Farashganj Sporting Club was built by some teenagers of old Dhaka which earned acclaim both nationally and internationally.

The urbanisation of Dhaka began in 1232 and became a cosmopolitan city day by day, said Hashem Sufi.

At the event, Ajay Sarkar said, ‘We used to drink water of the River Buriganga in our childhood, but now I cannot smell its water.’

Akter Jahan, a writer who composes stories in her original Old Dhaka Sukhbas dialect, said that the Dhaka people knew Urdu and Farsi with Bangla and the storytelling session was a regular family event.

Akter also read her short story titled Din Badaler Sedma in Old Dhaka dialect at the event.

The exhibition will end on May 31.