Desk Report:
Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider called on Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury and State Minister Ali Nawaz Mahmud Khayyam at the Minister’s office at the Secretariat on Thursday (April 2, 2026).
During the meeting, they discussed various issues of mutual interest between the two countries, especially cultural exchange and cooperation in preserving heritage.
The Minister said that culture is one of the most powerful means of building bridges between the people of different countries. He said that emphasis should be placed on the exchange of folk arts and crafts, including artists, singers and musicians. The Minister appreciated Pakistan’s proposal for specialized training on the preservation and restoration of antiquities. He said that regular exchange programs, especially for artists of classical music and folk music, will enrich the cultural arena of the two countries. The Pakistani High Commissioner said, we attach importance to organizing joint exhibitions with the participation of painters and craftsmen of the two countries. Both sides agreed to further strengthen the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan under the 1979 Cultural Cooperation Agreement and the ‘Cultural Exchange Program 2025-202’.
State Minister Ali Nawaz laid special emphasis on increasing cultural exchanges between the two countries. He said, the exchange of art and culture between Bangladesh and Pakistan will further deepen our relations. The meeting also discussed increasing the opportunities for scholarships and fellowships for students of the two countries to promote education and research.
Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Kaneez Maula, senior officials of the ministry and a delegation from the Pakistan High Commission were present during the meeting.
