Dhaka: Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal Shafiqur Rahman has proposed establishing an annual Bangladesh-Nepal Cultural and Creative Exchange Programme to deepen people-to-people ties and promote cultural and professional cooperation between the two countries. He made the proposal while addressing the inauguration of the ‘Beautiful Bangladesh’ International Photo Exhibition 2026 at Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the exhibition was jointly organised by the National Forum of Photo Journalists (NFPJ) Nepal and the Bangladesh Photo Journalists Association (BPJA) as part of the Bangladesh-Nepal Photo Journalist Exchange Programme, aimed at strengthening friendship, professional collaboration, cultural understanding and tourism promotion between the two countries. The event also marked World Photography Day.
Acting Director General from Nepal Tourism Board and Deputy Director of Chinese Cultural Centre and dignitaries from Nepal and China also joined the event. Highlighting the importance of photography as a powerful means of communication and expression, the ambassador said the exhibition in a World Heritage Site on World Photography Day provides Nepali audiences with an opportunity to discover Bangladesh’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, historical landmarks and, most importantly, the everyday lives and aspirations of its people.
Recalling the deep cultural cooperation between Bangladesh and Nepal, he shed light on common values and cultural and linguistic affinities of the two countries. Shafiqur Rahman lauded the increasing exchange of tourists, especially from Bangladesh to Nepal, and added that people-to-people connectivity provides the major building block in the bilateral ties of the two neighbouring countries.
He proposed establishing the Annual Cultural and Creative Exchange Programme to bring together photographers, filmmakers, musicians, artists, writers, and other cultural practitioners from Bangladesh and Nepal. The envoy suggested that the programme could include arranging joint exhibitions, cultural performances, film festivals, photography exchanges, and workshops, alternating between the two countries.
While calling for greater use of digital platforms and contemporary media to promote the cultural heritage and tourism destinations of Bangladesh and Nepal, he urged the photojournalists’ associations of both countries to undertake joint tourism promotion initiatives showcasing the complementary attractions of the two beautiful countries. Shafiqur Rahman assured that the Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu will stand ready to support and facilitate such initiatives to the extent possible.
Congratulating NFPJ and BPJA for organising the exhibition on the occasion of World Photography Day, he expressed hope that the exhibition will inspire greater interaction, two-way travel, professional cooperation and friendship between the peoples of Bangladesh and Nepal. Later, the ambassador joined the Chinese Photography Exhibition by the Chinese Cultural Centre as the Guest of Honour.