The government has planned to showcase Bangladesh's thousand-year-old cultural heritage to the world through cultural diplomacy with 51 countries, Culture Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury said on Saturday.

The government is working continuously to promote the country's arts and culture since the declaration of Nazrul Year, he said.

The minister made the remarks while exchanging views with cultural activists at a meeting organised by Chuadanga Zila Parishad at the conference room of Chuadanga Circuit House.

Initiatives have also been taken to introduce the younger generation to arts and culture through various programmes at educational institutions across the country, he added.

Nitai Roy Chowdhury said Bangladesh has a rich cultural heritage spanning thousands of years, and the government is placing special emphasis on cultural diplomacy to introduce the country's arts, traditions and heritage to people in other countries.

He also announced that Baul festivals would be organised across the country from now on.

Traditional folk music, Bhatiyali songs and boat races have been included in the ministry's cultural heritage initiatives, he said.

The government has also taken steps to revive and promote traditional rural games such as Dariabandha, Ha-du-du, Kabaddi and Lathi Khela, the minister added.

He said the Prime Minister had been providing immense encouragement for the development of the country's cultural sector.

Cultural activists from Chuadanga raised various demands concerning the development of the district's cultural sector, expansion of artistic activities and promotion of local cultural organisations.

They later submitted a memorandum to the minister outlining their demands for the overall development of culture in the district.

Presided over by Chuadanga Zila Parishad Administrator and District unit BNP General Secretary Sharifuzzaman Sharif, the meeting was attended by local cultural activists and representatives of different organisations.