nformation and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon spoke at an event organized by Jatiya Press Club. Photo : BSS

DHAKA, Aug 14, 2026 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon has called upon all concerned to nurture and promote cultural practices rooted in communal harmony and religious values.

He made the remarks at a "Qawwali Evening" organized by the Jatiya Press Club at its premises this evening.

Swapon said in the Indian subcontinent, Qawwali and Sufi culture have been playing a major role in promoting Islam as a religion of peace.

Appreciating the arrangement of Qawali musical ceremony, he said, "Such diverse and entertaining events prove that religious values have a profound influence on our culture on one hand. On the other hand, these also demonstrate that those who go to extremes in the name of religion and view religion as something separate from people's everyday lives have a mindset completely different from the Sufi cultural tradition represented by Qawwali."

The minister said he came to know that the JPC authorities are also planning to organize a Baul music evening soon, alongside the Qawwali evening. 

Through this combination of Qawwali and Baul music, the current leadership of JPC is upholding the true national cultural heritage of Bangladesh, he said.

Noting that he has long-standing relationship with the Press Club, the minister said as a member of the club, he has very good term with journalists and he would continue working together for continued press freedom and welfare of the journalists.

Social Welfare Minister Dr AZ M Zahid Hossain, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Managing Director and Chief Editor Kamal Uddin Shabuj , former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Anwarullah Chowdhury, Principal Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmed, Additional Secretary (Broadcasting) of the Ministry of Information Md Shah Alam, Daily Manabzamin Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Member of Parliament Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) President Shahidul Islam, General Secretary Khurshid Alam, Joint General Secretary Didarul Alam, among others, were present.

JPC President and poet Hasan Hafiz chaired the event which was moderated by Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Secretary General Kader Gani Chowdhury and Press Club General Secretary Ayub Bhuiyan.