Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) released DVDs comprising a staggering 13,000 songs, collected from five regions of Bangladesh as the Academy's initiative to collect and preserve folk culture and music, on Saturday. Along with the launch of the DVDs, a seminar and a cultural programme was also held.

Five regions were selected for the project in 2016, whose culture and music have been put together in the DVD set. They include 5200 songs from the Rangpur region, titled “Uttorer Geeti Shudha”; 1500 songs from six districts of Myemensingh under title of “Haor Jongoler Gaan”; 3750 songs from Sunamganj titled “Jol Jyotsnar Gaan”; 1008 songs from Jhenidah, under the title “Lokonondito Lokogaan”'; 1013 songs from five districts of the Faridpur region titled “Gao Geramer Sur”, and 653 songs of Lalon Shah and 357 songs of other Bauls, all collected from the Baul Utshab.

A display of books and the DVD was set up at different areas of the premises. Titled “Lokoshongskriti Shongroho, Shongrokkhon, Proshar Ebong Koroniyo”, a seminar and open discussion was held at the National Seminar Hall of BSA. Chief guest at the seminar was Shamsuzzaman Khan, Director General at Bangla Academy. Writer and researcher Dr. Shaktinath Jha of West Bengal, India presented translated works to Director General of BSA, Liaquat Ali Lucky. Other guests included artistes Kiran Chandra Roy and Indra Mohon Rajbangshi, and researcher Saimon Zakaria, amongst others.

A discussion and cultural programme was held later in the day, with Cultural ministry secretary Md. Ibrahim Hossain Khan as chief guest. Dr. Shaktinath Jha; Md. Mojibur Rahman Al Mamun, Director of National Archives and Library; artiste Sukhbilash Burma of West Bengal and Dr Jasmine Buli were also present. The event was chaired by Director General of BSA, Liaquat Ali Lucky. Artistes of BSA along with others performed at the event.