A three-day classical music and dance festival began on Saturday at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) in the capital, reports UNB.

BSA organised the event to inspire classical artistes across the country. The three-day event will end today.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor inaugurated the festival as chief guest. He said that music makes the human mind clean, beautiful and sophisticated. It also helps in increasing the human values of human beings as well as making people moral and tasteful. As a result, people become cultural minded and non-communal through this type of event.

Stressing the need for regular events on classical music and dance, he said organisers should not expect huge crowds as people mostly followed their passions in choosing to attend them.  

“Most of the classical music lovers do not understand this special and high-quality music properly. But they loved the classical music and visit this type of event. Moreover, all people should not understand the need of classical music as everyone will not be big dancer and musician,” the minister said.

BSA Director General Liaqaut Ali Lucky presided over the opening ceremony while cultural affairs secretary Ibrahim Hossain Khan was present as special guest.

Government Music College presented a chorus classical rendition (Kheyal) after the inauguration while singer Asit Ray and Soumita Bose presented Dhrupad, Raag.

Sharmila Bandyopadhyay and Rachel Priyanka Paris performed group classical dance while Rinat Fouzia and Firoz Khan played Sitar.

Priyanka Gope, Sunny Jubaer, Dr Fakir Shahidul Islam and Saiful Islam presented solo music performance while the inauguration event featured a flute recitation by Mohamad Moniruzzaman and duet dance performance by Nrityanchal. l