Bangladesh Artist Welfare Trust started its journey under the Ministry of Culture two years ago. The journey started for the welfare of poor artists, approval, and implementation of projects for the welfare of artists. However, complaints have been made that even if there is money in the fund, poor artists are not getting it. But the reason for this is also revealed in the report of a national daily.
It was known that Tk 35 crore is now deposited in the main fund of the trust. The trust has given scholarships to artists' children in three rounds so far. But no notice has been given so far from the trust for financial assistance to poor artists or cultural workers. As a result, none of the poor artists received financial assistance from the trust. The question has been raised that the trust is not doing 'real' work. The Ministry of Culture said that the Trust's policies are still incomplete. There is no manpower. These issues will be resolved quickly. Then financial assistance notices can be given to indigent artists. On the other hand, artists say that there are many poor artists in the country. Poor artists need financial support, but they do not know about this trust.
Incidentally, Bangladesh Artist Welfare Trust started its journey in 2022 under the Bangladesh Artists Welfare Trust Act 2001. Earlier in 2020, the artist welfare rules were formulated. The functions of the Trust are mentioned in section 7 of the Act. Respectively the functions of the trust are the welfare of destitute artists- approval and implementation of projects for the welfare of artists; financial assistance to artists unable to perform professional work; medical arrangements or financial assistance for sick artists; scheme of scholarship for special contributions to the arts. Grant of a one-time grant, scholarship, or stipend for the education of meritorious children of artists. To help the family if an artist dies in an accident.; To take any necessary measures to carry out the said work and to do any other thing for the law. According to sources, the trust has given scholarships to artists' children in three rounds so far. Apart from this, two artists have received scholarships for MPhil in two phases for their special contribution to art. But no poor artist has received financial support so far.
Ashim Kumar Dey, newly retired managing director of the trust, told the media that the fund now has Tk 35 crore including interest, which has been kept at FDR (bank fixed deposit interest rate). But the policies have been made keeping the future in mind. Since assistance is provided to indigent artists by the Ministry of Culture, no support is provided from another fund under the same Ministry. He said that 278 children of artists (6th to post-graduation) have been given scholarships in 2023 from the trust. 80 people got in the first round, 62 in the second round, and 136 in the third round. Under the scholarship, 6th to 10th class students get Tk 500 per month, 11th to 12th class students get Tk 1000 per month, and graduate-post graduate students get Tk 2000 per month.
There is no mention of the category of scholarship students in the list on the website of the trust. In January this year, the trust issued the fourth notification for scholarships for talented children of artists. At the same time scholarship notification has been given for MPhil/PhD to artists for special contributions to art.
The trust authority said that someone is applying, which means he is in need. However, there is no policy to consider the financial status of talented children of artists. When asked about the situation of artist welfare trust, theater personality Mamunur Rashid told the media that many poor artists in the country need money. But we don't know that there is money allocated in the trust for poor artists. It should be clear. It is a total waste to give some money a month for the education of artists' children without doing the actual work (helping poor artists with money). Should education be in this money? If there is a weakness in the policy, it should be resolved quickly and funds should be allocated for the support of poor artists.
