Ministry of Cultural Affairs
Profile
- Head
- Nitai Roy Chowdhury
- Role
- Minister
- Annual budget
- ৳8,240,000,000
- Staff
- —
- Established
- 1972
- Legal basis
- Rules of Business 1996 (Government of Bangladesh); Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Act 1974; Bangla Academy Act 2013; Copyright Act 2000 (amended 2005); Cultural Affairs and Sports Division established 26 May 1972 under Ministry of Education; reconstituted as standalone ministry in 2001.
Driving inclusive cultural governance through Pahela Baishakh renaming, multi-community celebrations, and active cultural diplomacy with India and Pakistan; preparing a nationally prominent Nazrul Jayanti celebration in Trishal on 25 May 2026 with a five-day programme and an 8-member organising committee.
Recent activity
- 2026-02-17 appointment Nitai Roy Chowdhury (BNP, Magura-2) sworn in as Minister for Cultural Affairs and Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam (BNP, Rajbari-1) as State Minister, both taking oath at the South Plaza of Parliament before President Mohammed Shahabuddin. ↗↗↗
- 2026-02-26 other Ministry organised the Ekushey Padak 2026 ceremony at Osmani Memorial Auditorium; PM Tarique Rahman conferred awards on 10 recipients including Farida Akhtar Babita (Film), Marina Tabassum (Architecture), and Warfaze (Music Band); Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury presided. ↗↗↗
- 2026-03-01 international Indian High Commissioner called on Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury at the Secretariat; minister stated mutual cooperation in archaeology, folk culture, creative arts, museums, and library activities can be strengthened; both sides agreed to increase exchanges of artists and cultural groups. ↗↗
- 2026-04-05 policy Ministry announced renaming of Pahela Baishakh procession from 'Mangal Shobhajatra' to 'Baishakhi Shobhajatra', dropping both 'Mangal' and 'Ananda' variants; decision taken after a preparatory meeting at the Ministry to end the ongoing naming controversy; core structure and folk motifs of the procession left intact. ↗↗↗
- 2026-04-14 other Ministry co-organised Pahela Baishakh 1433 (Bengali New Year) nationwide; Baishakhi Shobhajatra procession held under the new name at Dhaka University with folk motifs; Shilpakala Academy and Bangla Academy organised cultural programmes across all 64 districts; government included celebration of new year of Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Garo, Santal and other minority communities. ↗↗↗
- 2026-04-20 international Pakistan High Commissioner called on Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury and State Minister Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam; both sides agreed to boost bilateral cultural ties, increase mutual delegations and artist exchanges, and expand cooperation in sports, media, and cultural institutions. ↗↗
- 2026-05-08 other Ministry organised nationwide Rabindra Jayanti celebrations on May 8, coordinated through Shilpakala Academy district branches; Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury announced elaborate national arrangements for the occasion. ↗
- 2026-05-12 other Ministry formed an 8-member committee to organise the 127th birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam (Nazrul Jayanti, 25 May 2026); national programme to be held in Trishal, Mymensingh; five-day cultural programme to include performances, poetry recitations, Nazrul songs, theatrical shows, and exhibitions. ↗↗↗
Provenance & notes
The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has two political heads as of February 17, 2026: Nitai Roy Chowdhury (BNP, Magura-2) as full Minister and Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam (BNP, Rajbari-1) as State Minister. current_head reflects the full Minister per schema convention. The ministry's established_year is recorded as 1972, when the Cultural Affairs and Sports Division was created under the Ministry of Education on 26 May 1972; it was reconstituted as a standalone ministry in 2001. The FY2025-26 budget of Tk 824 crore (BDT 8,240,000,000) is specifically for the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and is cross-confirmed by UNB and The Financial Express; this is distinct from the broader 'culture, information, religion, and sports' cluster. The Pahela Baishakh procession renaming from 'Mangal Shobhajatra' to 'Baishakhi Shobhajatra' is the most consequential domestic policy decision in the 90-day window, drawing protest from Udichi. Key subordinate bodies: Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (64 district branches), Bangla Academy, Bangladesh National Museum, Bangladesh Copyright Office, Bangladesh Film Archive, and the National Archives.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Cultural_Affairs_(Bangladesh)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_of_Cultural_Affairs,_Bangladesh
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Newaz_Mahmud_Khaiyam
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitai_Roy_Chowdhury
- https://moca.gov.bd/
- https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/governance/news/who-gets-which-ministry-inside-bnps-cabinet-line-4108521
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- https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/403576/which-minister-holds-which-portfolio
- https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/pm-tarique-confers-ekushey-padak-2026-4115431
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- https://www.bssnews.net/news-flash/363991
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- https://www.bssnews.net/news/367395
- https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/govt-renames-pahela-baishakh-procession-baishakhi-shobhajatra-4144026
- https://www.newagebd.net/post/Country/295861/bangladesh-renames-pahela-baishakh-procession-as-baishakhi-shobhajatra
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- https://www.bssnews.net/news/386167
- https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/409954/cultural-minister-nazrul%E2%80%99s-127th-birth
- https://www.bssnews.net/others/374513
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- https://unb.com.bd/category/Entertainment/fy-202526-budget-tk-824-crore-proposed-for-cultural-sector/161175
- https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/home/tk-824-billion-proposed-for-cultural-affairs-ministry