DHAKA : Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury today said the present government, giving priority to the "Bangladesh First" policy, is indented to further diversifying relations with Argentina on the basis of mutual equality and dignity.

The minister made the remarks when Ambassador of Argentina to Bangladesh Marcelo Carlos Cesa paid a courtesy call on him at his office at the ministry. 

State Minister Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam was present on the occasion, according to a PID release.

During the meeting, Nitai Roy Chowdhury said the people of Bangladesh would forever remember with gratitude the unique support extended by Argentina at the very beginning of the country's great War of Independence in 1971 and the diplomatic recognition it accorded in 1972.

Mentioning that there is still no formal cultural agreement between the two countries, the minister said the draft "Cultural Cooperation Agreement" sent by Bangladesh needs to be finalized quickly.

He said the agreement would create a fusion between Bangladesh's Baul and folk heritage and Argentina's Tango and Chamamé dances.

The minister also said the relationship should be further expanded through exchanges in films, media and other cultural fields.

During the meeting, the two sides recalled the long-standing friendly relationship between Poet Rabindranath Tagore and renowned Argentine writer Victoria Ocampo as a historic cultural link between the two countries.

In this regard, Ambassador Marcelo Carlos Cesa said the people of Argentina are primarily familiar with Poet Rabindranath Tagore.

However, he said, they are highly interested in learning in detail about other distinguished Bangladeshi writers as well.

He requested translation of the timeless literary works of contemporary Bangladeshi writers into Spanish.

At the same time, he reiterated his call for Bangladesh's active participation in the traditional Buenos Aires International Book Fair.

The ambassador highly praised the songs of Bangladesh's spiritual saint and Baul Emperor Lalon Shah and laid special emphasis on translating Lalon songs into Spanish and spreading them across the world.

Referring to efforts to strengthen people-to-people connectivity between the two countries, the ambassador said four highly popular social media influencers and bloggers from Argentina are being brought to Bangladesh on the occasion of the ongoing FIFA World Cup.

He said the bloggers would stay in Bangladesh and produce special vlogs on the passion, love and culture of millions of Argentine football supporters in the country, which would be widely promoted in Argentina.

He said this initiative would further strengthen mutual goodwill between the two nations.

To give bilateral relations and friendship a unique and lasting dimension, Bangladesh formally proposed naming a road in Argentina's capital Buenos Aires after Bangladesh.

At the same time, Bangladesh also placed an environment-friendly proposal to plant and transfer some of its traditional indigenous plants to Argentina, considering the remarkable compatibility of the climate and weather of the two countries.

During the meeting, State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmood Khyom proposed organizing a grand joint cultural evening with the participation of renowned artists from Bangladesh and Argentina to make cultural exchanges between the two countries more dynamic.

The Ambassador highly appreciated the hospitality of the Bangladeshi people and their love for football.

Welcoming the proposals raised by Bangladesh, he expressed strong interest in further expanding cultural and economic cooperation between the two countries and in the speedy implementation of the proposed agreement.

Also present at the meeting were Deputy Head of Mission of the Argentine Embassy Patricio Urueña Palacio, Director General of the South America Wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kazi Anarkali and senior officials of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.