Staff Correspondent

Minister for Cultural Affairs, Nitai Roy Chowdhury, MP said that institutional corruption, financial plundering, and the collapse of banking structures under previous regimes have crippled the national economy.

Speaking as the chief guest at the "Colors Multimedia Star Award 2026" held at the Padma-Meghna Hall of Pan Pacific Hotel Sonargaon on Saturday afternoon, the Minister asserted that the nationalist government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working tirelessly to restore financial governance and discipline out of the economic ruins.

The colourful award ceremony was presided over by the advisor of Colors Multimedia and eminent musician Ferdous Wahid. Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and prominent poet Rezauddin Stalin, along with distinguished poet and cultural activist Rizvi Hasan Rizvi, attended the event as special guests.

The chief guest handed over honorary crests to various national personalities in recognition of their outstanding contributions to society.

Emphasizing the importance of life savings and insurance, the Cultural Affairs Minister noted that financial planning provides both psychological and economic security to ordinary citizens. "Savings protect human dignity and strengthen personal independence," he said.

Reviewing his own life experiences, the Minister highly praised prominent insurance personality BM Yusuf Ali for his exceptional contributions to the sector and urged the public to cultivate a culture of saving.

Turning his focus to the protection of national capital and domestic enterprise, Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury remarked, "Industry and trade form the backbone of a nation's capital. When domestic industries flourish, a country is liberated from the aggression of foreign commodities.

Reassuring non-resident Bangladeshi (NRB) remittance warriors, the Minister added, "Our administration is a purely nationalist government. Our primary responsibility is protecting national assets.

Expressing concern over the decline in educational and cultural standards, the Minister criticized past trends of artificially inflating passing rates, which compromised academic quality. "We want to revive a healthy stream of cultural practices. Art, acting, and music must mirror real human struggles, much like classical masterpieces such as Padma Nadir Majhi or Titas Ekti Nadir Naam. Whether it is pop or modern music, it must remain deeply rooted in our folk heritage," he concluded.

During the event, Colors Multimedia honors were bestowed upon Husne Ara Rafiq and Md. Ahmed Jewel for industry and commerce, Sarwar Khokan for real estate development, Dr. Ramisa Fariha for quality medical services, Priyomoni for acting, Huma Bepari for music, and Arjin Nishi for modeling. The Minister urged the young entrepreneurs to be inspired by life-oriented values and high ethical standards.