Dhaka: Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor on Tuesday said his ministry has preliminarily selected Comilla, Kushtia and Bogra for making SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) cultural capital in 2016.

He said this while presiding over a preparatory meeting at Shilpakala Academy in the city on announcing a place in Bangladesh SAARC cultural capital in 2016 as per a decision of the South Asian regional forum.

The minister said selection of a place in Bangladesh as SAARC cultural capital would brighten the country’s image in the world and it will create a scope to project the nation’s heritage and culture to the global people.

Asaduzzaman Noor said a two-member delegation from SAARC cultural centre in Sri Lanka will visit Mainamoti, Mahasthangar, Paharpur and Shilaidah for three days from tomorrow to select a place for SAARC cultural capital.

The Prime Minister will give the final approval to a place to be declared as SAARC cultural capital, he added.

Secretary-in-Charge Aktari Mamtaz, Bangla Academy Director Genewral Shamsuzzaman Khan, Shilpakala Academy Director General Liaqat Aly Lucky and National Museum Director General Faizul Latif were present at the meeting, among others.