United News of Bangladesh

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen on Sunday highlighted the strong cultural link between Bangladesh and the US through art while attending an event honouring Ekushey Padak-winning artist Dr Rokeya Sultana at Gallery Cosmos in the capital. He also praised the vibrancy and creativity of Bangladesh’s art scene and the role of cultural exchange programmes such as the Fulbright in strengthening ties between the two countries. The event organised by Gallery Cosmos and House of Solis at Garden Gallery in Baridhara showcased artworks produced during the workshop at Cosmos Atelier71, bringing together artists, organisers and art enthusiasts to reflect on the learning and collaboration fostered during the programme. Ambassador Brent T. Christensen was the chief guest along with Ms Deanne Dao (his wife). Christensen thanked the organisers for arranging the event and said it was a pleasure to attend a gathering celebrating the acclaimed artist. The envoy said he and his wife, Ms Deanne Dao, have long admired Bangladeshi art and artists. “My wife, Deanne, and I are very big fans of Bangladeshi art and the spirit and creativity of Bangladeshi artists going back to our previous time in Dhaka and reinforced in our not just over two months here.” Christensen recalled that during an early visit to an art gallery in Dhaka, they noticed Dr Sultana’s work and were immediately drawn to it. “And an early art gallery we visited, we noticed Dr. Sultana’s work. We were both immediately drawn to it. And so much the better when we learned that she was in fact one of ours as well as a US alumnus, a Fulbright alumnus,” he said. He said he was particularly excited to learn that the Bangladeshi artist completed her Fulbright programme at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he had also spent several years.