The month-long sixth edition of the National Sculpture Exhibition, organised by the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), concluded yesterday. Hosted by the Fine Arts Department of the Academy, the exhibition was inaugurated on December 21. Later, the exhibition duration was extended by seven days, and the closing ceremony took place at the National Art Gallery Auditorium.

The closing ceremony was chaired by Dr Syed Jamil Ahmed, director general (secretary rank) of BSA. Distinguished artist and honorary professor of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University, Dr Abdus Sattar, reviewed the artworks on display. Honorary professor of Dhaka University, Nazma Khan Majlis, spoke as a discussant, while Abdul Halim Chanchal, director of the Production Department of BSA, also addressed the audience. Mustafa Zaman, director of the Fine Arts Department, delivered the welcome speech.

In his speech, DG Jamil Ahmed addressed the artists, saying, "We hope that your creations will inspire us all. Our dramatists will be inspired, those who paint will be inspired, and by creating a connection between various art forms — especially music, dance, and recitation — they too will find inspiration. Together, through diverse practices, we will discover the path to the new Bangladesh we are searching for."

Speaking about the activities of BSA, the director general stated, "Each department is working with its own uniqueness and intellectual capabilities, free from interference by myself. We have carefully planned for each department over two months, holding extensive discussions and revisions. We have been actively implementing these plans since December, and we want to do even more."

Looking forward to upcoming programmes, he announced, "We plan to organise 89 events in February under the theme 'Festival of Multilingualism'. It will celebrate our indigenous communities and ethnic groups alongside Bengali speakers. Through this multidimensional and multilingual celebration, we aim to see a more inclusive Bangladesh. I hope you will all join us."

Following the discussion segment, certificates were presented to the 159 participating artists of the sixth National Sculpture Exhibition.

The Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy initiated its efforts to encourage and foster the practice of sculpture in 1982 by organising the first sculpture exhibition. This year marked the sixth edition of the national-level sculpture exhibition, showcasing 178 artworks by 159 artists across various categories. A total of 13 awards, including 10 honorary ones, were presented during this year's event.