In memory of the 40th death anniversary of André Malraux — a French novelist, art theorist and Minister — Alliance Française and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy organised a series of events — Remembering André Malraux.

Patroned by Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Embassy of France in Dhaka, the main event took place on 23 November at 11:00am at National Art Gallery auditorium in Shilpakala Academy.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, Deputy Head of Mission to the France Embassy in Bangladesh Jean-Pierre Poncet, Ambassador of Italy to Bangladesh Mario Palma, and Dhaka University Vice-chancellor Professor Dr A A M S Arefin Siddique were among the distinguished guests present during the occasion.

A press session was organised at the seminar hall in National Art Gallery where the Alliance Française de Dhaka Dircetor and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky shared their views about the event.

These events are focusing on André Malraux’s support to the Liberation War in September 1971, and the homage he paid during his visit to Bangladesh in 1973 to the sacrifice of martyrs, intellectuals, students and people of Bangladesh. At the age of 70 in September 1971, he was one mighty voice to air on the radio, a vehement call for the constitution of a new International Brigade for Bangladesh, and his announcement to come forward for military service received hundreds of letters from volunteers. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman invited Malraux in recognition of his commitment to Bangladesh’s cause and in 1973, Malraux visited the independent Bangladesh.

The main event started through the speech of Jean-Pierre Poncet. Professor Dr A A M S Arefin Siddique  shared  his view on Malraux’s visit to University of Dhaka. Assaduzaman Noor delivered his welcome address. After these addresses, a documentary on Malraux’s Visit to Bangladesh in 1973 was screened. Dr Gurupada Chakraborty said few words on his book Asha (Bangla Translation of André Malraux’s ‘L’Espoir’). There was also a drama performance titled Asha, directed by Ashim Das, focusing on some popular speeches given by André Malraux.

André Malraux was the very first Minister of Cultural Affairs in France, appointed by General Charles de Gaulle in 1959.

Later, a round-table discussion — Public Cultural Policies and Private Initiative for Culture — was held.

Asaduzzaman Noor, Mario Palma, Professor Kaiser Haq, Ruxmoni from Dhaka Art Summit, Ziauddin Tariq Ali of Liberation War Museum, and Anisul Hoque shared their views on the topic.

Two exhibitions were on display at the lobby of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy from 10:30 am to 2:00pm.

Drawing freely

 A 12-panel exhibition on freedom of expression as embodied by fifty press cartoonists from all around the world, presented by Institut Français and Courrier International.

Novembre à Paris

A photography exhibition by Sumon Yusuf who was attending an artist-in-residence programme in Paris during the terrorist attacks of 13 November 2015. In the face of inhuman and extreme cruelty, his photographs became the context he could hold onto: he decided to capture life.