KARACHI, March 30: A cultural delegation from Bangladesh performed at a function organized by the Pakistan-Bangladesh Friendship Forum on Tuesday night.

The president of the PBFF, Barrister Shahida Jamil, said that Bangladesh and Pakistan were two brotherly countries which faced common problems. Praising Gen Pervez Musharraf for reviving the efficacy of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, she spoke about his visit to Bangladesh in August 2002 and the warm welcome he had received from the government in Dhaka.

She presented a brief history of the PBFF, which was established in 1983. She thanked the Bangladesh deputy high commissioner for arranging the visit of the cultural troupe.

The Bangladesh deputy high commissioner, Abdul Hannan, underlined the importance of people-to-people contact between Bangladesh and Pakistan. He said that while the audience would like to see the performance of senior artists, he had ensured that young and upcoming artists from Bangladesh perform in Pakistan so that they get exposure.

The cultural troupe prefaced their performance with a dance based on a song by the national poet of Bangladesh, Kazi Nazrul Islam. They also performed folk dances and sang songs. Gazi Abdul Hakim mesmerized the audience with a brilliant flute recital. Using three types of flute, he played Raag Bhopali and a couple of folk tunes.

The cultural troupe from Bangladesh was led by Rabeya Siraj. Members of the troupe included Fahmida Alam (singer), Anowar Hossain Rupom (singer), Sanjida Akter Mehedi (dancer), Kaniz Tazia Ahmed Shati (dancer), Lobna Yeasmin (dancer), Abdur Rashid Swapan (dancer), Tapash Deb (dancer), Gazi Abdul Hakim (flautist), Tapash Chakraborty (musician) and Ali Ashraf (musician).