Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) virtually inaugurated a month-long cultural festival on Sunday, initiating live cultural shows in 10 Upazilas across the country from January 4 to January 31.

The festival is featuring two-day cultural programmes in each Upazila where artistes from Upazila level are scheduled to showcase their cultural performances for one hour, district-based artistes will perform for 30 minutes and BSA acrobatic troupe will perform for 30 minutes.

A virtual inauguration ceremony was held on Sunday at BSA's official Facebook page in the afternoon. Presided by BSA director general Liaquat Ali Lucky, the virtual inauguration ceremony was joined by Jatiya Sangsad chief whip Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury as its chief guest.

The festival was inaugurated by Simeen Hussain Rimi MP, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Cultural Affairs.

Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Md Badrul Arefin, Madaripur District Commissioner Dr Rahima Khatun, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Shibchar Upazila in Madaripur Md Asaduzzaman and Chittagong District Shilpakala Academy's District Cultural Officer Md Moslem Uddin attended the inaugural ceremony as special guests.

According to BSA's schedule, the programmes will be held at Shibchar upazila in Madaripur district on January 4 and 5, Kapasia upazila in Gazipur on January 13 and 14, Nawabganj upazila in Dhaka district on January 22 and 23, Domar upazila in Nilphamari district and Bhandaria upazila in Pirojpur district on January 25 and 26, Melandaha upazila in Jamalpur district on January 27 and 28, Rangunia upazila in Chattogram district and Kaharole upazila in Dinajpur district on January 29 and 30, Dumuria upazila in Khulna district and Matlab upazila in Chandpur district on January 30 and 31.

Earlier, the announcement of the festival was made by BSA director general Liaquat Ali Lucky at a press briefing held at the National Art Gallery conference room of the Academy on Saturday.