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DHAKA, May 2, 2026 (BSS) - Culture Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury today said healthy cultural practices must be strengthened to eliminate cultural degradation and social decay, warning that drug abuse has spread dangerously across the country and is engulfing the youth.
"Healthy culture must be used to eliminate cultural degradation. The menace of drugs has now spread across the country, affecting school and college students as well as the entire youth population. This is a well-planned conspiracy. In such a situation, no one can remain complacent; when fire breaks out in a locality, even places of worship are not spared," he said.
The minister was speaking as the chief guest at a cultural event titled "Borshobidai 1432 and Borshoboron 1433," organised by the music institution 'Sursaptak' at the Natya Shala auditorium of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka.
He said just as weapons are needed to counter an armed attack, the strongest weapon against cultural degradation is the country's thousand-year-old rich cultural heritage. He added that the Ministry of Cultural Affairs will further strengthen cultural practices across the country to eliminate cultural degradation from society.
The minister also announced nationwide celebrations of Rabindra Jayanti on May 8, including at Shilaidaha in Kushtia, and Nazrul Jayanti on May 25, including at Trishal in Mymensingh, with elaborate arrangements across the country.
Presided over by Sursaptak Founder and Chairperson, Ekushey Padak-winning renowned singer Ferdausi Ara, the event was also addressed by State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmood Khyom, Agriculture Secretary Rafiqul Islam Mohammad, UCB Managing Director and CEO Mohammad Mamdudur Rashid, and SMC Managing Director Toslim Uddin Khan.
