KOLKATA, Feb 6: The Third Bangladesh Film Festival 2021 opened in Kolkata on Friday with the inauguration by the Bangladesh Information Minister Hasan Mahmud in the presence of Indian foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and West Bengal minister for science and technology Bratya Basu.
The 5-day long Festival will be showcasing 32 Bangladeshi feature films. Film on the life of Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh ‘Hasina-A Daughter’s Tale’ was the inaugural film of the festival while a few other notable films to be presented in the festival included ‘Jalaler Golpo’, ‘Krishnopokkho’, ‘‘Under Construction’, ‘Debi and , ‘Podmo Patar Jol.’
Mahmud said in his inaugural address that India and Bangladesh have to increase their cultural ties so that nothing can create division among the people of the two friendly countries. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said India-Bangladesh ties were time tested and based on shared sacrifice. He emphasised the need to further enhance the people to people contact between the two countries. Shringla said he was personally very pleased to be present during the auspicious occasion and observe such close cooperation between India and Bangladesh given his personal association with Bangladesh.
Dr. Mahmud also inaugurated an art exhibition on the life of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to mark his birth centenary.
In a statement the Ministry of External Affairs stated that “India and Bangladesh both share a deep passion for cultural freedom, the practice and pursuit of a more comprehensive cultural vibrancy and expression in both societies are what separates both the nation. It can be said with great pride that the deep historical bond between the two nations has been carved, in golden letters with the lifeblood of warriors. The spirit of 1971 that helped liberate Bangladesh spurred the India-Bangladesh relationship that we recognise today as the foundation of the relationship for the years to come.”
Pointing out that cultural collaboration had always played a crucial role in getting citizens closer to the administration, the statement said, “A genuine dialogue between cultures is only by stories and narratives that people tell each other. It is with this perspective both the nations are blessed by traditions, culture, language and, above all, by an ardent belief in democracy, justice and pluralism,” it said.
Both India and Bangladesh will jointly be celebrating “Mujib Borsho” – the birth centenary of Bangabandhu, the highest leader acclaimed as the father of the nation of Bangladesh. The shooting for the biopic had begun last month in Mumbai.
The year 2021 will also see a multitude of events not only in India and Bangladesh but also in other countries, as well, including the UN headquarters in New York, The year will also see the golden anniversary of the Indian-Bangladesh diplomatic relationship in which leaders of both the countries will participate.
(Venkatesh Iyer)
