Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. File photo

DHAKA, Sept 7, 2025 (BSS) - Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki today said a nation without history and culture is vulnerable.

“Whenever one nation wants to dominate another, they do two things first-they say you have no history and own culture. This is the primary step towards subjugation and the nation which denies its culture becomes vulnerable to the other dominant cultures," the adviser said.

"In the new Bangladesh after July uprising, we want to address these two areas and working on our culture. That means we want to celebrate the cultural heritages we have," he added.

He was addressing as the chief guest the award giving ceremony at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy here this evening. Cultural affairs ministry accorded the honor to renowned singer Sabina Yasmin.

The adviser said, “Sabina Yasmin is one of the great treasures, and today we are here to honor her. Today she will be honoured by the state."

He noted that primarily it was decided that the Ministry of Cultural Affairs would present the honour. But the Chief Adviser himself agreed to honor renowned singer Sabina Yasmin by adding signature at the honorary memento.

He said, “We, as a society, often hesitate to honor our icons and it has been culturally ingrained. If something does not fit within a specific frame, it is not celebrated. We want to break that frame."

“That is why, as you know, only a few days ago our Cabinet declared the death anniversary of Lalon as a Class-A National Day,” he added.

He added, “The purpose of all these initiatives is to celebrate our own heritage. Today, we have gathered here to celebrate that heritage through Sabina Apa.”

Adviser to the Planning Division Professor Wahid Uddin Mahmud, Cabinet Secretary Dr Sheikh Abdur Rashid, Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Mofidur Rahman, and Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and BNP standing committee member Salauddin Ahmed were present, among the guests on the occasion.

At the event, Adviser Wahid Uddin Mahmud draped a Chador-embroidering with lyrics of her famous songs-over Sabina Yasmin.