11-Party Alliance Holding a 'Car March' in the Name of a Long March, Cultural Minister Says in Chuadanga

Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury has said the 11-party unity alliance is holding a car march in the name of a long march. He said the history of a long march is a programme carried out on foot, but the programme the 11-party unity alliance is holding can be called a car march.

The minister made the remarks on Saturday afternoon while answering journalists' questions after a views-exchange meeting with the district administration, police department and cultural workers at the Chuadanga Circuit House.

Nitai Roy Chowdhury said they will present their statements through this car march and people will hear them. The government has no comment on it, he said, adding that it is their matter.

He said the government wants those who have the right to do politics in the country to do politics.

Answering journalists' questions about Chuadanga's law and order situation, the minister said asking him about the district's law and order situation amounts to shifting responsibility onto the wrong person. The local journalists know well about the law and order situation, he said.

He said he has come here for only one day. He will understand whatever is shown to him, he said, but if there is anything beyond that, action will be taken if he is informed about it.

Various problems of Chuadanga were also discussed at the views-exchange meeting. The minister said the district has many problems including drugs, online gambling, smuggling and child marriage. The tendency towards suicide is also high here, he said.

He said weather and various social factors are particularly responsible for this. Special work will have to be done with Chuadanga to tackle these problems, he said, adding that Chuadanga belongs to everyone and Chuadanga is now his as well.

On Nazrul studies and finding artists from the grassroots, the cultural minister said activities to find artists from the grassroots are under way. The activities are being conducted from every area, school, madrasa, upazila, district and division up to the national level.

Under the programme, talent is being searched in various fields including drama, acting, poetry recitation, song, dance and drawing. National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam is at the centre of these activities, he said, adding that various programmes have also been organised in Chuadanga several times on the occasion of Nazrul Year.

Various methods of preventing the district's drugs, smuggling, child marriage and suicide tendency were also discussed at the views-exchange meeting. Deputy Commissioner Lutfun Nahar, Superintendent of Police Mehedi Shahriar and District Council Administrator Sharifuzzaman, among others, were present at the time.

The cultural minister later took part in the closing ceremony of the week-long Nazrul festival at the District Shilpakala Academy premises.