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Patronise talents, creativity

Urges president at 'Celebrating Life' award-giving ceremony

Staff Correspondent
President Zillur Rahman yesterday called for nurturing the rich culture of the country and artists of all medium, saying that creative works inspire people to be patriotic and to connect the past with the present, while helping nations to move forward as well.
"Songs, photographs, and movies are strong forms of arts. Songs and movies of old days still encourage and help us to be more patriotic,” he said while addressing the award giving ceremony of Celebrating Life, an annual contest of films, photography, and lyrics organised by The Daily Star and the Standard Chartered Bank.
The theme of the second annual contest this year was Celebrating Womanhood'. President Zillur Rahman distributed the awards to the 22 winners in a gorgeous ceremony in Bangabandhu International Conference Centre yesterday evening.
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The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam, and Standard Chartered Bank Chief Executive Officer Jim McCabe also spoke at the event.
Addressing tlie audience as the chief guest, the president said the contest is of a unique nature, which will encourage artists of new generation in creative work He expressed the hope the winners will continue their innovative arts in future.
"Bangladesh is a country of songs and melodies. Elements of arts are everywhere around us. Rivers, forests, fields of green crops, and the simplicity of rural life highlight the stories of our lives. These are the main subjects of our arts and culture," the president told the audience.
Bhatiali, Bhawaia, Baul, Lalon and other folk songs are the best elements of Bangla culture, he said, adding those must be nurtured and preserved. "The rich culture and tradition speak of us and help us go forward," he said.
Lyricists, filmmakers, and photographers — all do creative work and find pure joy in them. Zillur Rahman said. Many known and unknown talented artists are spread all over the country, but their talents are sometimes lost due to a lack of publicity, recognition and patronisation, he added.
"So, our responsibility is to nurture talented artists and their creativity. I thank The Daily Star and the Standard Chartered Bank for such an initiative to inspire artists. I hope other organisations will also come forward to help our culture bloom," the president said.
With the theme on womanhood the organisers specially recognised women and their contribution to the nation, he said, congratulating the winners in the contest, and hoping that they will make even greater contributions to the nation.
Renowned singers Runa Laila, Ferdous Ara, Kumar Bishwajit and Fahmida Nabi, and dancers Shormlla Bandapadhaya, Shukla Sarker, Munmun Ahmed, Tamanna Rahman, and Dipa Khandaker performed at the event highlighting women's contributions to the society.
Zaheen Music, Channel i, Saptahik 2000, ABC Radio, Urmi Group, and Dots & Marks were partners in the event.
Speaking at the event, The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam said despite a lot of problems, Bangladesh has tremendous achievements and all these are matters of celebration.
The women through their leadership in the political arena and sectors of agriculture, readymade garments and other professions have taken Bangladesh to a new height,
which is rare in the world, he observed.
"The prime minister and the leader of the opposition in parliament, the agriculture and the foreign ministers all are women," he said, adding, no-one can prevent progress of the nation, which became independent through a liberation war.
The country is becoming self-sufficient, while export earnings and per capita income are going up - - all these are very positive developments, which sometimes do notcome to notice, Anam said.
"The country has a lot of human resources and people have inspiration and patriotism. With all these, we want to take Bangladesh to a new level in the world,” he said, adding, one of the objectives of the initiative - Celebrating Life -is to focus the rich culture and tradition of the nation to the forefront of the globe.
Mahfuz Anam said films, photography and songs could greatly help the country focus its identity to the global arena.
"We have many talented photographers and filmmakers who can do the job," he said, suggesting that no-one should suffer from inferiority complex because of problems and all should go forward with the immense potentials the nation has.
Lauding women's role in the society of Bangladesh, Standard Chartered Bank CEO Jim McCabe said during the Liberation War, Bangladeshi women occupied important positions at many levels as caregivers, nurses, spies, cooks, arms carriers, motivators, and even as armed combatants.
"This year's contest is meant to highlight and acknowledge the extraordinary role of women in Bangladesh's society," he said, adding: "We strongly believe that gender inclusion is essential for Bangladesh to become a middle-income country in near future."
Women are playing a very active role in maintaining Bangladesh on track to achieve its Millennium Development Goals, he said while giving the vote of thanks.
MORE PHOTOS ANO STORY ON PAGE 2, 5 & 16