Dhaka:BRAC and UNESCO have entered into a partnership to boost Bangladesh's creative economy, focusing on sectors such as film, cultural tourism, and heritage. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) for this initiative was signed at the BRAC Centre in Dhaka.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the MoU was signed by BRAC Executive Director Asif Saleh and UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh Dr. Susan Vize. The agreement aims to develop a national strategy and roadmap for the creative economy, which is expected to generate jobs and support informal workers in the sector.
Asif Saleh emphasized that the partnership would leverage BRAC's existing initiatives, such as Aarong's collaboration with artisans, a popular theatre programme, and the community-based tourism initiative Otithi. Dr. Susan Vize noted that Bangladesh's cultural heritage and creativity could significantly improve the livelihoods of craftspeople, dancers, chefs, and others involved in the sector.
The collaboration will assess the current creative ecosystem in Bangladesh, identify gaps, and set priorities. It will outline measures for short-, medium-, and long-term growth, focusing on film and audio-visual industries, cultural and community-based tourism, film festivals, and heritage preservation. Additionally, the partnership will explore the potential establishment of a national Creative Cities Network and consider the possibility of Dhaka joining UNESCO's Creative Cities Network, which promotes creativity and cultural industries for sustainable urban development.
The initiative seeks to expand economic opportunities, strengthen creative industries, and safeguard Bangladesh's cultural heritage.