The New Nation - Internet Edition

Art & Culture Desk

A 'Loko Utsab' (folk festival) was held at the Zia Hall Complex in Khulna recently.

Loko Sangeet Academy of Khulna Radio along with other leading cultural organisations of Khulna jointly organised the festival.

Banglalink, the second leading telecommunications service provider in the country, was the partner of the festival.

The three-day annual folk festival was started on June 27. Moniruzzaman Moni, Mayor of Khulna City Corporation (KCC), inaugurated the festival as chief guest, while Babul Huq, Regional Commercial Head of Banglalink, was present as special guest on the occasion.

The festival attracted hundreds of participants from all over of Khulna.

Khulna has a rich cultural heritage of popular Lalon music, Gazir Gaan, Royani Gaan, Potgaan and other such folk music and dance. The aim of the event was to showcase the traditional cultural heritage of the Khulna Region as well as make them popular to the younger generation.

Teams and artists from all the ten districts of Khulna region performed their own cultural activities in the event over these days.

Apart from cultural performances three veterans individually received awards for their contributions to cultural movement in their respective fields in Khulna. Among them Ustad Sheikh Ali Ahmed for his contribution to Folk music.

Prof Golam Mostafa conducted a discussion on 'Folk Music of the Khulna Region.'

Banglalink, have always supported local cultural activities through partnership and promotion of such programs.