India to conduct ‘Cricket Connects’ exhibition in Bangladesh

India has proposed a ‘Cricket Connects’ exhibition in Bangladesh and other SAARC countries to celebrate the subcontinent’s cricketing heritage.

“Cricket connects the people of the region like no other sport does. So we have proposed to hold the ‘Cricket Connects’ exhibition,” said India’s Culture Secretary Ravindra Singh on the eve of the third meeting of SAARC ministers of culture.

Ahead of Wednesday’s much hyped meeting, Bangladesh Culture Minister Asad Ud Zaman Noor called on his Indian counterpart Shripad Naik at Hotel Ashoka here and discussed bilateral cultural exchange.

Officials close to Naik, however, told bdnews24.com that “it was ritual talks ahead of the formal meeting scheduled on Thursday”.

The SAARC culture ministers meeting aims to promote multilateral cooperation.

Its highlight will be adoption of the Delhi Declaration to chart a roadmap for cultural ties in the region during 2014-17.

Besides Bangladesh, the cultural ministers of Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives will take part in the Delhi deliberations.

The second such meeting was held in Colombo in 2006.

“Tomorrow, ministers of culture of SAARC nations will discuss developments in their countries in the areas of heritage conservation before adopting the Delhi Declaration,” a government official said on condition of anonymity.

The Delhi meeting will focus on ways to bolster the maintenance of heritage of the member countries and enhance cultural cooperation.

Naik also had bilateral meetings with all the visiting ministers ahead of the meeting.