The 43rd edition of the Jatiya Rabindra Sangeet Sammelan (National Rabindra Sangeet Conference) began on Thursday.
It is organised by the Jatiya Rabindra Sangeet Sammilan Parishad and is being held at the Chhayanaut auditorium in Dhaka's Dhanmondi.
The three-day conference, scheduled to be continued till January 25, is being joined by more than five hundred artists, cultural activists, and organisers from different regions of the country.
Eminent Rabindra exponent Fahmida Khatun inaugurated the conference, and the president of the inaugural session, Dr Sarwar Ali, acknowledged her graceful presence with floral greetings.
The three-day conference festivity began with the song "Ei Kotha ta Dhore Rakhish." After the song, Dr Sarwar Ali delivered the President's speech, stating, "There was a crisis of artists here as many talented artists left for India after the partition-then talented artists like Fahmida Khatun and Zahidur Rahim played a special role in spreading the practice of Rabindra Sangeet across the country." —UNB
"Fahmida Khatun inaugurated this conference on Friday, and this incident has created a special significance for this year's conference," Dr Sarwar Ali said, while also emphasising the majestic literary works of Rabindranath and how they resonated with society and its people for ages.