Works underway to honour living legends: Farooki

Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has said the government has taken a plan to honour and celebrate life and works of the country's living legends.

He said this in a Facebook post responding to the question raised on the social media why noted writers and artistes would not be honoured during their lifetime.

Regarding paying tributes to Language Movement veteran Ahmed Rafiq, the adviser said, "We were in touch with Ahmed Rafiq when he was alive. Our big plan was to honour him. But we could not do this as his physical condition didn't permit him to attend any outdoor programme."

"We have a plan to honour the legends and we will start it from local level and gradually go to the international level. Shilpakala Academy is already preparing an annual calendar to execute the plan," he said.

Farooki wrote in his post that said, "We are also particularly careful that such events do not become mere formal or boring one. Celebrating life and works of creative people of different backgrounds like Salimullah Khan and Bratya Raisu cannot be done in the same way. The programme is being set according to each person's personality, work and philosophy."

Noting that the work of implementing this initiative has already started while a calendar of future programme is being prepared, he said.

He pointed out several programmes which were already implemented saying "A few days ago, we held an event with Sabina Yasmin Apa. According to singer Khurshid Alam Bhai such an event was not arranged ever before. Again, on October 8, on the occasion of Ustad Alauddin Khan's birthday, we are going to arrange a special event called 'Dhrupadi Sandhya' at Lalbagh Fort. Artists of present generation will perform in this programme. In addition, Ustad's grandson Siraj Khan will come Dhaka from the USA to join the programme."

About the artistes and writers to be honoured in the future he said it will include all artists, literary and cultural figures, both living and deceased.

"We want to celebrate everyone- Badruddin Umar, Selim Al Deen, Rock legend James, Tareque Masud, SM Sultan, Nasir Ali Mamun- everyone will be in this list. Ahmed Rafiq Bhai was also on that list. We wanted to organise an event when he was alive. But when we went to see him in February, we observed that his physical condition is not fit for taking part in any such arrangement."

Regarding the misconception about financial assistance providing to Ahmed Rafiq, the adviser said, "Since he got sick, many people have written to me - why are we not doing anything, especially in the context of financial assistance. I just want to say that the government has fulfilled its responsibility to the maximum. The government did it in February too, and it is still doing it. But we didn't publish it as it's seemed to be disgracing for a writer."

"Work is underway to establish music and dance school under the supervision of the Shilpakala Academy. In addition, new departments will be launched and international film, theatre and music festivals will be arranged," he said in his post.