Bangladesh’s State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam called for removing vulgar and indecent practices from politics and culture at Jagannath University’s sixth Recitation Festival 2026. The daylong event was held on the university campus on August 3 and included an interdepartmental Nazrul recitation competition, honours, prize distribution, a discussion meeting and cultural performances. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Md. Reza Uddin inaugurated the programme.

The minister said crises in recent years had created institutional capacity gaps across politics, culture, the economy and other sectors. He said the current government was working to build a secular, non-discriminatory and democratic state regardless of nation, religion or group. He stressed maintaining civility in political culture and avoiding indecent language, warning that otherwise the country’s image and future could be harmed.

The minister pledged government support for Jagannath University’s overall development and cultural activities. Poet Abdul Hai Shikder and recitation artist Munshi Md. Rezaul Hossain Tito received honours. H M Fahim won the interdepartmental competition, while Khizir Fayaz received a prize as champion of the inter-university recitation competition.