With participation of internationally acclaimed writers, poets and scholars, vibrant appearances of all ages of book lovers made Dhaka Lit Fest, which concluded on Saturday, a platform of exchanging and sharing creative practices and knowledge.
The three-day literary event, where people with different languages and culture gathered with a common goal to foster literature practices virtually turned into a platform of sharing and exchanging diversified literatures and culture.
“It has really given us immense inspiration to promote and showcase Bangladesh literature, culture and heritage at global stage,” Kazi Anis Ahmed, one of the directors of Dhaka Lit Fest said.
“This is the sixth edition of “Dhaka Lit Fest”. Previously, it was held with the name of Hay Festival. Our main objective was to project our literature, culture and tradition at international level through this literary festival” he added.
With a promise to promote Bengali literature and culture to the global community, International Literary Festival for the sixth time began Thursday on the premises of Bangla Academy in the capital with the name Dhaka Lit Fest (DLF).
Nobel Prize-winning writer Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul inaugurated the three-day festival formally by cutting a ribbon on November 17 in the Abdul Karim Sahitya auditorium of Bangla Academy.
Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith attended the inaugural function of the Dhaka Lit Fest as the chief guest while Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor attended it as the special guest.
This year`s Dhaka Lit Fest has featured some special attraction which included vibrant participation of many internationally renowned writers --- American-Indian poet Vijay Seshadri, who won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, 2016 Man Booker International Prize winner Deborah Smith, and 2014 European Union Prize for Literature winner Evie Wyld.
Over 200 internationally famed writers, artists, researchers and journalists from home and abroad participated in the DLF this year. They participated in different panel discussions, which were open for all.
Organizers of the DLF told BSS that Dhaka Lit Fest has been regarded as the largest literary festival in South Asia. They said DLF would not remain restricted in the literary arena, rather it will create a wonderful scope for discussion on different disciplines of knowledge.
Source: BSS