Culture Ministry Joint Secy Harun-or-Rashid takes additional charge of Shilpakala DG

Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Harun-or-Rashid has been given additional charge as director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs issued an office order on September 21, assigning him the responsibility alongside his regular duties until further orders. He will continue in the role until a regular director general joins the academy.

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Under the order, Harun-or-Rashid will oversee the academy’s day-to-day operations, including necessary financial expenditure, payment of salaries and allowances to officials and employees, and other administrative activities in accordance with the rules.

The post became vacant after the one-year contractual tenure of poet and writer Sheikh Rezauddin Ahmed, popularly known as Rezauddin Stalin, expired. The government appointed him director general on September 21, 2025, for one year from the date of joining.

Rezauddin Stalin’s appointment followed the resignation of theatre director and researcher Syed Jamil Ahmed in February 2025. Mohammad Wares Hossain, secretary of the academy, had served as acting director general from March 2025 before Stalin’s appointment.

Harun-or-Rashid’s additional charge will keep the academy’s administrative and day-to-day activities running until a new regular director general is appointed and joins.