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Cultural activists on Friday demanded that one per cent of the national budget for the financial year 2025-26 be set aside for the cultural sector.

They raised the demand at a seminar titled Budget Analysis and Proposal for Cultural Sector organised by Theatre Artists Association of Dhaka in the National Theatre Hall Seminar Room of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

Eminent economist Anu Muhammad addressed the seminar as chief guest while renowned dance artiste and researcher-activist Lubna Marium, theatre personality Mamunur Rashid, Tariq Anam Khan, Nazrul Sangeet singer and trainer Sujit Mustafa, recitation artiste Golam Sarowar, photographer and editor of Drishokal K M Jahangir Alam, Dhaka University’s Centre on Budget and Policy director Mohammad Abu Yusuf, among others, spoke at the event presided by TAAD president Azad Abul Kalam.

The concept paper from the TAAD was presented by Kazi Toufiqul Islam Emon and the seminar was moderated by Apu Shahid.

At the event, the TAAD demanded an online digital archive, more autonomous institutions for culture, allocation for the revenue budget, building folk and national minorities institutes, taking steps to make branches of the BSA and others government cultural institutions more effective, increasing donations for artists, establishing learning centres in districts, and establishing cultural centres in different countries.

Anu Muhammad said that the budget was not just an economic matter, but rather it reflected aspirations of a country.

‘It is also necessary to link the Ministry of Culture with the Ministry of Education,’ Anu Muhammad said, adding that cultural activists must continue their fight to improve culture and protect nature.

Lubna Marium said, ‘We need to collect and research cultural data to prepare a proposal for sustainable cultural development.’

Sujit Mustafa said that Television and Radio needed to increase artists’ and trainers’ remuneration on the basis of global market.

Tariq Anam Khan said that the government should take policy to nurture the culture instead of rejecting it.  

Mamunur Rashid said that there was no need for a ministry for culture as it interrupted cultural practices of the country.

Mohammad Abu Yusuf said that although the government invested money in the cultural sector, they needed to think beyond today to build a creative society.