Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) and People's Theatre Association (PTA) jointly organized a day-long cleanliness campaign, cultural event and art-camp with leading and promising artists of the country at the Central Shaheed Minar on Wednesday.

BSA director general and founder of PTA Liaquat Ali Lucky inaugurated the day-long event, sweeping the Central Shaheed Minar area along with renowned artists Biren Shome, Jamal Ahmed, director of BSA fine arts department Syeda Mahbuba Karim Mini and others.

"As one of the most prominent and remarkable monuments in Bangladesh which was the centre-front of our glorious Language Movement in 1952, Central Shaheed Minar reminds us of our love and sacrifice for our mother tongue. The monument should be kept clean all the time. Besides Dhaka, we are holding similar programmes at all districts with the help of district Shilpakala Academy branches and local artistes," Liaquat Ali Lucky said while inaugurating the event.

Regarding the Academy's upcoming event marking the International Mother Language Day, Lucky said, "BSA will organise the programme at Central Saheed Minar every month from now on, and we will arrange a light and sound show at Central Saheed Minar in February. The production will portray the history of the language movement."

Aimed at cleaning all the Shaheed Minars across the country, the event was joined by country's renowned artists including Jamal Ahmed, Biren Shome, Fazlur Rahman Bhutan, Syeda Mahbuba Karim Mini, Shahjahan Ahmed Bikash, Kiriti Ranjan Biswas, Karu Titas, Farzana Islam Milki, Farhana Afroz Bappi, Kabir Ahmed Masum Chisti, Farzana Ahmed Urmi, Rashed Sukhon, Sujon Mahbub and Nur Munjerin Rimjhim who participated in the art camp and created artworks depicting the language movement and International Mother Language Day.

In the art-camp, veteran artist Biren Shome created a painting depicting people placing floral wreaths at the Central Saheed Minar while three birds are seen in flight in the background. Jamal Ahmed created a work depicting the country's founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Syeda Mahbuba Karim Mini created a painting portraying the language movement, showing the revolutionary people walking on a street holding placards, banners and festoons demanding Bangla as the state language in 1952.

Artistes of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy presented enthralling cultural performances and Bangladesh Shishu Acrobatic Dol entertained the audience performing a stunning display of balance and tricks. Shamima Chowdhury Alis recited poems on the language movement, followed by BSA Baul troupe's presentation of traditional and folk songs. Child artistes of the academy presented a production titled 'Jonmo Shoto Borshe Jatir Pita' comprising songs and dance, written and directed by Liaquat Ali Lucky.