The government is going ahead with the plan to set up a national cultural complex in the capital with a projected cost of Taka 170 crore over a period of five years, reports BSS.

Addressing a press conference at the Shilpakala Academy, Kader said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lay the foundation of the national cultural complex at a function, to be held on the academy premises tomorrow.

As part of the complex, a number of facilities will be developed within the present Shilpakala Academy area to help cultivate art and cultural activities. State Minister for Sports and Cultural Affairs Obaidul Kader said in the city yesterday.

The facilities to be built in the Shilpakala Academy include national art gallery, national theatre, national music and dance centre and a modern auditorium.

Syed Yusuf Hossain, secre-

tary in charge. Cultural Affairs Ministry, and Shamsuzzaman Khan. Director General. Shilpakala Academy, among others, were present at the conference.

Kader said although foundation of a national theatre was laid in 1995 by the previous government, the progress of work is very slow. The present government wants to honour its pledges made to the people, he said adding, the first phase of the national theatre will be completed by June next year.

The minister said that at the directives of the Prime Minister. country’s eminent artistes and architects succeeded in presenting a master plan for the national cultural complex within a period of three months.

The national art gallery will be partly ready by November next year for holding art exhibitions from member countries of D-8. The first phase of the art

gallery is to be completed by June 1999 at a cost of Taka 21.67 crore, he said.

The national music and dance centres and national theatre will be constructed in phases in a manner so that when the first phase is over, it becomes functional, he added.

Besides facilities for art and culture, administration and auxiliary facilities like book, coffee and crafts shops will also be built within the academy premises.

Dwelling on the cultural complex, the minister said it would be a vast area covering Bangla Academy. Institute of Fine Arts. Public Library. National Museum. Independence Memorial within Sunrawardy Uddyan. Ramna Garden. Shi-shu Academy and Shilpakala Academy. He said to link up Shilpakala Academy with Ramna Garden and Suhra-wardy Uddyan. two artistically designed overbridges will be built by the Dhaka City Corporation.

Replying to a question. Kader said the government has decided to provide opportunities to our own architects and artists to design and decorate these facilities of national pride.