Bangladesh National Cultural Policy 2006
The Ministry of Cultural Affairs provides the framework for an overall cultural policy and sets the objectives, financial frameworks, subsidy arrangements and the organizational structures that form the basis of cultural policy in Bangladesh.
The Cultural Policy was introduced in 2006. According to the acts and strategies this policy has been implemented through 17 organizations under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and in coordination with other ministries such as Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Children and Women affairs and Ministry of Industries etc.
The Cultural Policy measures apply to everyone living in Bangladesh irrespective of ethnic, religious, linguistic or other background. In Bangladesh, the following areas are within the province of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs: Visual Art, Music, Theatre, Film, Libraries, Archives, Museums, Cultural Environment, and Copyright etc.
The main objectives of this Cultural Policy are as follows:
1. To protect and promote all cultural expressions in Bangladesh regardless of caste, class, religion, origin etc.
2. To develop cultural activities and integration with economic development.
3. To protect, preserve and develop cultural elements of small ethnic groups.
4. And of course, to meet the wave of globalization and conceive positive elements and resist negative effects.
For the people of Chittagong Hill Tract area where majority of small ethnic communities lives, Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs including local government agencies and NGOs works for the development of life and culture in that region.
During the period (2011- 2012), Bangladesh government allocated budget amount of 28005524.00 USD for implementation of this policy through government agencies and NGOs.
At present people are more aware about Cultural Diversity at local, regional, national and international level. Especially small ethnic groups are more recognized by main stream culture in Bangladesh. And of course, small ethnic groups and women are more conscious about value and importance of their cultural legacies and practices.