Online Desk: Felicitating the rickshaw painters in Dhaka whose works have made rickshaw and rickshaw paintings recognised as the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, Bangla Academy hosted a reception ceremony on Tuesday.

The ceremony was held at the academy’s Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad (AKSB) auditorium.

Chaired by Bangla Academy president Selina Hossain, the event was joined by state minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid as the chief guest and Cultural Affairs secretary Khalil Ahmed as the special guest.

Bangla Academy director general Poet Muhammad Nurul Huda delivered the welcome address, while the first secretary of the Bangladesh Embassy in France Walid Bin Quashem and the academy’s director of Folklore Museum and Treasury Department Dr Aminur Rahman Sultan participated in the discussion.

A total of 111 rickshaw painters were awarded certificates, felicitations-memorials and Tk 10,000 (ten thousand) per person, at the event. The award and prize money were given on behalf of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs by the chief guest, special guest and president and director general of Bangla Academy.

In addition, Bangla Academy’s recent publication ‘Rickshaws and Rickshaw Art in Dhaka’ album and Dr Aminur Rahman Sultan’s authored book ‘Dhaka Zilla’r Lokosangskriti’ (Folklore of the Dhaka District) was unveiled at the ceremony.

Speaking as the chief guest, KM Khalid said, “Bangladesh’s rickshaw painting has gained global recognition as part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This is a remarkable honour for our country, our Bengali netizens, and the achievement of every rickshaw puller and rickshaw painter in this country – moreover, this is Bangladesh’s achievement.”

Cultural Affairs secretary Khalil Ahmad said, “In addition to the nature and public life of Bangladesh, it is important to capture the struggling history of this country, especially the portrayal of Bangabandhu in rickshaw paintings. Both the forthcoming Amar Ekushey Book Fair and the Bangladesh Pavilion of the upcoming Kolkata International Book Fair will feature our rickshaw artwork.”

Poet Muhammad Nurul Huda said, “UNESCO recognition is an outstanding achievement in the history of rickshaw painting in Bangladesh. This achievement will play a special role in highlighting the folk culture of Bangladesh in the world, and Bangla Academy is honoured to welcome the artisans of rickshaw painting under the patronage of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.”

Dr Aminur Rahman Sultan said, “Bangla Academy has fulfilled its national cultural responsibility in the appropriate presentation of rickshaw painting in UNESCO and organizational strengthening of rickshaw
painters. Additionally, it is our national duty to pay tribute to the artists who were instrumental in UNESCO’s acknowledgement of rickshaw painting.”

The first secretary of the Bangladesh Embassy in France Walid Bin Quashem said, “After completing a long technical process in UNESCO, the rickshaw art of Bangladesh is now recognized as a cultural symbol worldwide; and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs along with Bangla Academy has done a commendable job by organizing this reception of the main artisans of this recognition, the rickshaw painters of Bangladesh. A specific plaza of rickshaw painting can be constructed in the capital Dhaka, where the country’s rickshaw painters would commemorate the international recognition day of rickshaw painting on December 6 every year.”

Rickshaws and rickshaw paintings in Dhaka, Bangladesh were inscribed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of humanity during the 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Botswana, from December 4 to 9. Bangla Academy worked as the catalyst behind the proposal presented by the Bangladesh government on Dhaka’s rickshaws and rickshaw paintings under the patronage of the Cultural Affairs Ministry.