Aminul Islam said, " This is the first art camp from Asia in Italy. There will be about 40 artists from India. Those from Nepal and Sri Lanka couldn't make it at the last moment. We'll go to Rome and meet up in Venice. There we'll be sight seeing, painting and attending the Venice Biennale. After sight seeing we'll hold our art camp in Florence. Incidentally, Murtaja Baseer and I have studied at Florence Academy of Fine Arts in the 50s. Having been there once for three years I feel I still know every nook and corner, and certainly look forward to being there."

Murtaja Baseer said," I'm going to Italy after 47 years and am excited about it. I studied painting and fresco there for two years, and had my first solo exhibition in Florence. I found that Florence has a charm of its own which surpasses that of London and Paris. It has an unusual element of intimacy for me and I'm going there full of nostalgia. When I'll walk the lanes, I'll remember the days of yore."

Qayyum Chowdhury said, " It is a great opportunity for any artist to visit Italy. It's a superb place where you can see the works of Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael, who were key forces of the Renaissance. Meeting counterparts from India will also be exciting, as it will help us exchange our views, and broaden our visions."

"It will be a thrill for all the artists there, the seniors leading the way," said Mahmudul Haque. "I hope that with the fresh exposure there will be changes in our work." "It will be a tremendous experience going overseas with our seniors," said Mohammed Eunus, "Meeting the Indian artists will be another rewarding experience." Ranjit Das commented, "This will be a fresh experience for the eleven artists from Bangladesh. We'll get to actually see the works of the masters." Sheikh Afzal added, " I've been to Italy before and it's a veritable heaven. We'll get to witness artwork that we've been admiring since our student days. The company of the senior artists will also be invigorating."

Luva Naheed Chowdhury, Director, Bengal Foundation commented, "Indian artists are today established in the international art market. We are not lagging behind the others in talent but a wide recognition is not there yet. If we work with those who are revered overseas it will have impact on our work as artists will have opportunity to study others.

"Once the paintings are completed, there will be a book and video film of the art camp to help present a positive image of Bangladesh."

The workshop will be held from 2nd to 12th October. There will be 13 artists including Munirul Islam from Spain and Shahabuddin from Paris. This is Bengal Foundation's fifth art camp and the first overseas one.