DHAKA, April 18, 2024 (BSS) - State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat today called for increasing investment in the country's arts and culture for its further progress.

"Bangladesh got liberated through the Liberation War with the spirit of building a non-communal, modern and peaceful society, where there will be no room for extremism and fundamentalism. To build such a society, we need a lot of investment in arts and culture," he said.

The state minister was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 12th Liberation DocFest Bangladesh, an international documentary screening festival on emancipation and human rights, as the chief guest at the Liberation War Museum in the city's Agargaon area this afternoon, said a press release.

Indian filmmaker and mentor exposition of young film talent Nilotpal Majumdar and national and international award winner Indian filmmaker Haobam Paban Kumar addressed the function as special guests.

Noting that some pillars should be developed to build a developed country by 2041, Arafat said, "We have already made many achievements to build such pillars. We have achieved much economic development in the last 15 years and we need to make progress further".

He added: "However, in the next five years, we need to increase our investment for the development of the country's arts and culture as there is no greater weapon than arts and culture to fight extremism, fundamentalism and evil forces".

The state minister said innovative talent is needed in the field of arts, literature and culture.

"We want to ensure a healthy environment for flourishing arts and culture in the country. We will try to do this through the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting," Arafat added.

Liberation War Museum Trustees Asaduzzaman Noor, MP, and festival director Mafidul Haque also spoke at the event while another trustee of the museum and member secretary Sara Zaker gave the welcome address.