Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury. File Photo

SANGSAD BHABAN, July 13, 2026 (BSS) - Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury today said the government has undertaken an initiative to expand cultural, artistic and sports activities at educational institutions across the country to curb the spread of cultural degradation, obscenity and unhealthy cultural practices.

He said the programme will be implemented in phases beginning on July 19 at all primary schools, secondary schools, colleges and universities across the country.

The minister made the remarks while replying to a supplementary question from treasury bench member Md. Mosharraf Hossain (Bogura-4) during the question-answer session in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS).

With Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal in the chair, he said the prevailing cultural degradation, obscenity and anti-life cultural trends were not created by the present government.

“When a country’s national capital fails to develop and a plunder-based economy takes root, different sectors of the state, including arts, culture, education and the judicial system, inevitably suffer,” he said.

The minister said those who accumulate wealth through plunder can manipulate every sphere of society, leaving the country’s arts, culture, education and legal institutions in a devastated condition.

“After assuming office, we have been working extensively to bring about positive changes in these sectors,” he added.

Chowdhury said the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, along with information technology and tourism-related institutions, is jointly working to engage the younger generation in healthy cultural practices.

He said cultural, artistic and sports activities would gradually be introduced at all levels of educational institutions, beginning with primary schools.

He also said the government would give priority to launching activities of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in upazilas where such programmes are yet to be introduced.

“Where permanent infrastructure is unavailable, temporary cultural activities will be launched by using rooms in the offices of Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs),” the minister added.

He expressed optimism that activities of the Shilpakala Academy could begin in new upazilas within this year if suitable locations are identified with the cooperation of local members of parliament and the upazila administration.

The minister said the government is sincerely committed to the promotion of arts and culture, attaching equal importance to cultural development alongside economic progress.

He expressed hope that the collective efforts under the leadership of the Prime Minister and Leader of the House would ensure the flourishing of a healthy cultural environment across the country.