Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the government is taking measures to develop and promote arts and culture at the grassroots level.

"We're taking initiatives to set up Shilpakala academies all over the country to help develop the ideas, knowledge, and skills of culturally-minded community at the grassro4ots level," she said.

The premier said this while inaugurating the 19th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the city.

She launched the month-long art exhibition through a virtual platform from her official residence Gono Bhaban.

The exhibition, which is one of the grandest art extravaganzas in the world and the longest-running international art biennale event in Asia, would welcome its visitors till January 7, every day from 11:00am to 8:00pm.

Hasina said her government has been promoting the country's languages, culture, artworks, drama, film and creativity.

Since the formation of the Bangladesh Awami League government in 1996, her government has prepared a master plan for the development of Shilpakala Academy, she said.

She said National Theatre, Experimental Theatre, Studio Theatre, Music and Dance Auditorium, Fine Arts Auditorium and Open Stage were built there. Construction of three more auditoriums is also underway.

The premier said the government has constructed new buildings for Shilpakala Academy in 64 districts. Shilpakala Academy has been set up in 493 upazilas, which means the government wants to take the services for raising cultural activities to the people at the grassroots level.

"We've been working for the socio-economic development on the one hand and taking steps to develop their artistic minds," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said arrangements are being made to preserve and display local and foreign artworks in these places. Arts, music, dance, drama film, traditional folk music or folk culture festivals are also being organised.

Sponsored by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the 19th edition of Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh 2022 includes 649 pieces of art created by 493 artists from 114 nations, including 149 Bangladeshi artists.

The edition features a two-day international seminar titled "Home and Displacement" with the participation of local and foreign artists, art critics, jury and observers.

The seminar will be held on Friday and Saturday at the National Art Gallery Auditorium and Seminar Rooms of the National Theatre Building.

In addition to the main exhibition, the Bangladesh National Museum displays 42 artworks of Bangladeshi legendary master artists from its collection as a part of the art extravaganza.

This 19th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh 2022 is dedicated to the country's founding president and the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who envisioned and established Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy which has been organising the Asian Art Biennale, the largest art exhibition in Asia, for the past 40 years.

Six artists were conferred honorary awards, while three others received grand awards.

Rafiqun Nabi, president of the event's jury board, announced the names of the awardees.

On behalf of the premier, State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid conferred the awards upon the recipients.

Among others, Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Abul Monsur, jury board member and noted Polish art critic Jaroslaw Suchan, and Shilpakala Academy Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky, spoke at the inaugural session.