At a press conference held at the Secretariat on Thursday afternoon (November 21), Cultural Adviser Mostafa Sarwar Farooki announced seven priority programs initiated by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. These initiatives, aimed at fostering cultural growth, include the “Festival of Youth” and the “National Talent Hunt. "

The programs are “Remembering Monsoon Revolution,” “Festival of Youth,” “National Talent Hunt,” “Digital Oral History Project,” “Bangla Academy Creative Writing Workshop and Research Project,” “Modernization of Video Projection Systems at the National Museum,” and “Show-Creator Workshop.”

According to a statement from the ministry, “Remembering Monsoon Revolution” is set to bring new energy and a creative wave among the youth of Bangladesh. As part of this initiative, workshops will be held in all eight divisions of the country under the guidance of eight renowned filmmakers, resulting in the creation of eight medium-length visual content pieces.

Additionally, eight new theater productions will be developed. The initiative will also include the production of a Nazrul song album featuring popular artists. To mark its release, a central concert will be held in Dhaka, which will be broadcast nationwide. Exhibitions of photography, painting, and cartoons will also be organized under this program.

The government will host the Festival of Youth, featuring cultural events across the country from December 30, 2024, to February 8, 2025.

The National Talent Hunt program aims to create a new cultural awakening by identifying and nurturing the talents of Bangladeshi children, teenagers, and young adults.

The Digital Oral History Project will include developing a large-scale digital archive. The histories of participants in the Monsoon Revolution will be recorded on video and made available for broadcast.

As part of its efforts to support creative talents, Bangla Academy will host workshops for emerging writers, publish new books, and provide 50 research grants along with 10 one-year research fellowships.

The National Museum’s auditorium will undergo modernization to upgrade its video projection system, enabling year-round exhibitions of stage performances, international films/documentaries, and other visual content.

Additionally, a Show-Creator Workshop will be organized for aspiring young creators, featuring trainers from globally recognized OTT platforms.

The press conference was attended by Cultural Adviser Mostafa Sarwar Farooki, Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Syed Jamil Ahmed, Director General of Bangla Academy Mohammad Azam, and heads of various departments and agencies under the ministry.