A 10-day event promoting Bangladeshi art, food and culture began on Thursday at InterContinental Dhaka in the capital.
HerNet Foundation and InterContinental Dhaka jointly organised the event.
A total of 40 artists participated in the event comprising an art exhibition, a food court, a cultural performance and a live painting event.
The festival is featuring paintings of the artists portraying nature and lifestyle of the country.
Renowned artist Monirul Islam inaugurated the event while Norwegian ambassador to Bangladesh Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen was present as the guest of honour.
Artists Abdus Sattar, Naima Haque, and Nasim Ahmed Nadvi and Dhaka University treasurer professor M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury spoke at the event moderated by founder of HerNet Foundation Alisha Pradhan.
Monirul Islam said that food and art filtered inner heart of humans.
‘We should appreciate this kind of festival which blends food culture and art,’ Monirul Islam said, adding that artworks can also be exhibited outside of the gallery so that people can participate in the events.
Abdus Sattar said that the private sector had to make more efforts to promote art as the government never patronised the art and culture of the country globally.
Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen said that Bangladeshi artists had taken part in the world art events and the festival would promote the cuisine of Bangladeshi foods.
The festival is offering ‘Buy One Get Three’ dinner with diverse local cuisines.
The festival will end on May 24.
