Bangladesh, UK Seek Stronger Cultural Ties Through Arts

Bangladesh is seeking to strengthen cultural cooperation and people-to-people ties with the United Kingdom, focusing on institutional partnerships, cultural exchanges and the development of its creative economy.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam visited the Ashmolean Museum at the University of Oxford on Friday to explore opportunities for cultural cooperation and support for Bangladeshi artists.

She visited the museum at its invitation, accompanied by Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Muhammad Abdul Muhith and senior officials.

During the visit, Shama toured Climate, Culture, Care, an exhibition by Bangladesh-based artist Soma Surovi Jannat. The exhibition marked the first solo show by an artist based in Bangladesh at a museum in the UK.

She praised the depth, intensity and creativity of Jannat’s work and also viewed selected museum collections accompanied by members of its curatorial team.

The visit reflects growing recognition of Bangladesh’s contemporary art and the government’s efforts to use cultural diplomacy as an instrument of foreign policy to foster mutual understanding, build bridges between societies and strengthen ties between the peoples of Bangladesh and the UK, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The state minister also held discussions with Dr Mallica Kumbera Landrus, Keeper of Eastern Art and Curator at the Ashmolean Museum, on strengthening engagement between relevant institutions.

The discussions focused on institutional partnerships, cultural exchanges, initiatives to support Bangladeshi artists and ways to develop the country’s creative economy.