Farooki showcases Bangladesh’s inclusive cultural policy at WCPF
Highlighting Bangladesh's inclusive cultural policy at World Cultural Policy Forum (WCPF) in Barcelona, Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has said that the country's July Mass Uprising transformed the nation's socio-cultural divides into a source of collective strength. He made the observation while speaking at the WCPF in the city of Spain. The three-day global gathering, widely known as MONDIACULT 2025, was inaugurated on Monday by Spanish President Pedro Sanchez, according to a press release issued here today by the ministry.
Among over hundred cultural ministers, Farooki joined the Forum as the Head of Bangladesh delegation and spoke at first plenary on Cultural Rights and Economy of Culture. He further underlined the historic cultural fault lines that have been politically exploited over many decades against the interest of the communities and created a fractured society. He reiterated Bangladesh interim government's commitment to carefully address these and creating an inclusive cultural scenario.
Farooki cited example of the recently celebrated Anondo Shovajatra that included all ethnic groups to celebrate traditional New Year centrally which was not the case in the last 54 years. At the same time, he said the government has been pursuing a neutral cultural policy centering on religious festivals. This year's initiatives of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs centering Durga Puja, Eid and Buddha Purnima stand as testimony to that, he added. He also highlighted the importance of public-private partnership in innovative cultural financing.
Calling upon the international community to come forward, Farooki urged them to utilize digital platforms and OTT services to promote cultural content. Mostofa Sarwar Farooki was joined by the Cultural Ministers of Finland, Paraguay, Malta and Poland who have appreciated the vision that Bangladesh is pursuing over last one year. MONDIACULT is the largest pilgrimage of the Cultural Ministers and policy makers in the world. The Forum aims at drawing political prioritization of culture in the post-SDG framework to which a declaration will be adopted on the next Wednesday.
