Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy to host two-day music festival on World Music Day

The Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy is set to organise a two-day music festival in Dhaka to celebrate World Music Day.

The event will be held on June 21 and 22 at the National Theatre Hall of the academy with support from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, according to a press release issued on Wednesday.

On the opening day, Cultural affairs minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury will attend as the chief guest. Special guests will include Ali Newaz Mahmood Khyom, State Minister for the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, and Zahed Ur Rahman, the Prime Minister’s adviser on Information, Broadcasting, Culture, Policy, and Strategy. Veteran lyricist Moniruzzaman Monir will also join the programme as an honoured guest.

The second day's event will feature Information and broadcasting minister Zahir Uddin Swapon as the chief guest.

Both sessions will be chaired by Sheikh Rezauddin Ahmed, Director General of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

Formal proceedings will begin at 6:30pm each day, followed by a special musical performance at 7:00pm featuring artists from different generations of Bangladesh's music industry.

Organisers said the festival will be open to the public, offering audiences an opportunity to celebrate World Music Day through performances spanning a variety of musical styles and traditions.