Dhaka: Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma today said art remains a powerful medium to renew the unique India-Bangladesh relationship and strengthen enduring people-to-people ties.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the remarks came as the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) of the High Commission of India inaugurated the art exhibition "Sampriti" at its Gulshan premises in the capital this evening, as stated in an Indian High Commission press release.
Inaugurating the exhibition, Verma emphasized the unique relationship between India and Bangladesh, deeply rooted in shared history, language, culture, and close people-to-people connections. He highlighted that art serves as a powerful medium for expressing and renewing these bonds, transcending boundaries, and creating spaces for dialogue, empathy, and harmony.
The inauguration coincided with the 165th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. The program commenced with the ceremonial lighting of lamps in tribute to Tagore by Pranay Verma alongside eminent artists Rafiqun Nabi, Monirul Islam, Farida Zaman, and Abdus Sattar.
The high commissioner noted that Tagore remains a significant figure in the shared cultural heritage of India and Bangladesh, embodying the ideals of creativity, humanism, and cultural harmony.
The exhibition has been organized as a continuation of the "Sampriti" Art Camp held on April 10-11, marking the 77th Foundation Day of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). It showcases artworks created during the two-day art camp by 33 eminent contemporary Bangladeshi artists and ICCR scholars, including Rafiqun Nabi, Monirul Islam, Abdus Shakoor, Abdus Sattar, Farida Zaman, Jamal Ahmed, and others. The exhibition was curated by Sanjoy Chakraborty.
Pranay Verma also paid tribute to the late artist and ICCR scholar Tarun Ghosh, whose artwork is included in the exhibition in honor of his artistic legacy. Senior artists Rafiqun Nabi and Monirul Islam expressed hope that "Sampriti" would inspire further artistic exchanges between India and Bangladesh.
The evening was enriched by Rabindra Sangeet performances by Shahnaz Nasrin Ila from the University of Dhaka. The exhibition will remain open to visitors from May 8 to May 17 at the IGCC in Gulshan.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha