BANGLADESH has a great potential and opportunity to make its mark in the world by projecting her culture through heritage shows overseas like India and Sri Lanka have been doing. This was stated at a news conference held by Bangladesh Arts Council (BAC) ahead of a heritage show last Thursday. Bangladeshi culture has a unique history of 2500 years. We have a rich heritage, full of diversity and some distinct characteristics which need to be presented in a coherent and attractive manner to the outside world.

One route to take is through bilateral cultural exchange programmes held between friendly countries. The other path we can take is one of staging heritage shows in important capitals of different continents where we would like to aim at image dividends.

Bangladeshi culture is replete with music, dance, theatre, art and craft, folklore and sufi traditions, literature, philosophy and ethos, festivals and celebrations as well as its distinct cuisine, the last-named already popularised by Bangladeshi Diaspora.

Particularly noteworthy is the stride we have made in painting and sculpture. Several of our artists have won global acclaim. The works of Zainul Abedin, Sultan, Quamrul Hassan, Shahabuddin Ahmed, SM Ronobi, Hashem Khan and many others of the new generation symbolise the country's dynamic culture. Moreover, handicraft and cottage industry are playing a vital role not only economically but also culturally.

The usual focus on the incidence of natural disasters, squalor and sheer poverty in the West must change into a recognition of a 'positive' Bangladesh. Cultural stereotyping is a dangerous practice which should be given up if a harmo -nious and truly interdependent world is to be achieved. We must be prepared to learn from an enrich each other.

We can say that we may not be rich economically but we are rich culturally. But the ignorance about our own traditions and culture, especially among the new genera-tions needs to be turned into an enthusiastic internalisation of our cultural moorings and cultivation of our culture in all its forms. Simultaneously, the government and the private corporate sectors must come forward in sponsoring more of cultural events at home and abroad helping to advance Bangladesh's image.