KATHMANDU, AUGUST 20

Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal Md Shafiqur Rahman has proposed establishing an annual Bangladesh-Nepal Cultural and Creative Exchange Programme to deepen people-to-people ties and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

Addressing the inauguration of the ‘Beautiful Bangladesh’ International Photo Exhibition 2026 at Kathmandu Durbar Square on Wednesday, Rahman said the proposed programme could bring together photographers, filmmakers, musicians, artists, writers and other cultural practitioners from both countries.

He suggested organising joint exhibitions, cultural performances, film festivals, photography exchanges and workshops alternately in Bangladesh and Nepal.

The exhibition was jointly organised by the National Forum of Photo Journalists Nepal and Bangladesh Photo Journalists Association as part of the Bangladesh-Nepal Photo Journalist Exchange Programme. It was also organised to mark World Photography Day.

The ambassador said photography provided an effective medium to showcase Bangladesh’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, historical landmarks and the everyday lives of its people.

Highlighting the cultural and linguistic affinities between Nepal and Bangladesh, Rahman said increasing tourist exchanges and people-to-people connectivity were important foundations of bilateral relations.

He also urged photojournalists’ associations of the two countries to undertake joint tourism promotion initiatives showcasing attractions in both countries and called for greater use of digital platforms and contemporary media to promote their cultural heritage and tourism destinations.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu would support and facilitate such initiatives as far as possible, he said.

Officials from the Nepal Tourism Board, Chinese Cultural Centre and other dignitaries from Nepal and China attended the event.