Romana Akther,Daily Tourist: Industries Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir has said that the Baisakhi Mela is not just a cultural gathering; rather, it is an important and timely initiative in the development of the country’s art and culture sectors.He made this statement while delivering a special guest speech at the inauguration of the seven-day Baisakhi Fair jointly organized by the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) and Bangla Academy to celebrate the Bengali New Year 1433 and Chaitra Sankranti at the Bangla Academy premises in Dhaka today. Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury was present as the chief guest at the event.The Industries Minister said, “For the past decade and a half, every year on Baishakh, there was a sense of panic among people,  wondering whether there would be a normal New Year’s Eve or something unexpected would happen. Today’s New Year’s Eve festival is an example of how peaceful and orderly the people of this country are.” The minister said that the country’s productivity is not limited to large industries; rather, it is spread across rural artisans, small entrepreneurs, and home-based production systems. Their creativity, labor, and innovative power strengthen the foundation of the national economy. He said, the contribution of the small, cottage and medium industries sector in the history of Bangladesh is very significant. This sector is one of the main means of creating employment for a large population of the country. The Ministry of Industries is working relentlessly to ensure the sustainable development of this sector, expansion of entrepreneurship and an investment-friendly environment. The event, chaired by Bangla Academy Director General Professor Mohammad Azam, was attended by Industries Ministry Secretary Md. Obaidur Rahman, Culture Secretary Kaniz Maula, BSCIC Chairman Md. Saiful Islam, and Bangla Academy President Professor Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, among others. Later, the Minister of Culture and Industry inaugurated the fair by releasing balloons and pigeons and toured various stalls at the fair. There are a total of 160 stalls at this year’s fair. Of these, 7 are leather goods, 6 are Jamdani, 4 are Nakshi Kantha, 44 are textiles, 5 are Shatranj and 2 are Manipuri sarees. Apart from this, there are 13 stalls for artisans’ zones, children’s rides and entertainment zones, puppet shows, bioscopes and cultural programs, 13 for marginalized artisans, 2 for small ethnic groups and 1 for the Quantum Foundation’s voluntary blood donation program. It is worth noting that this public folk fair will be open to everyone from 10 am to 7 pm every day until April 20.