TEHRAN – Bangladeshi Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud has said that his country is eager to replace the broadcast of Turkish and Korean series with similar Iranian productions.

He made the remarks on Saturday in a meeting with the Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Mohammad-Mehdi Esmaeili, the Iranian culture ministry announced on Sunday.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 12th Conference of Information Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul, Turkey.

Mahmud said that Turkish series are popular in Bangladesh and similar Korean series are also broadcast in the country, however, he added that due to cultural affinities between Iran and Bangladesh, his country is eager to replace the Korean and Turkish productions with Iranian TV series.

He praised Iranian filmmakers for their participation in different festivals being organized in Bangladesh and said that the two countries have always had close cultural relations in history due to their common religion and origins of language.

He pointed to the history of the friendly relationship between Iran and Bangladesh, and noted that the Persian language was spoken in the region before British colonialism dominated there. He said that numerous rare Persian manuscripts are preserved at libraries and academic centers in Bangladesh.

Esmaeili called Islam the most important common topic that can help expand cultural relations between the two countries.

He said that Iran is ready to sign agreements to speed up organizing mutual culture weeks.

Esmaeili also held a meeting with Marriyum Aurangzeb, a member of Pakistan’s National Assembly and the Federal Minister of Information & Broadcasting in Shehbaz Sharif ministry.

Along with plans to expand cultural relations with Pakistan, Esmaeili said that Iran is eager to team up with Pakistan to make a biopic about Sir Muhammad Iqbal, a South Asian Muslim writer, philosopher and politician.

He also said that Iran is ready to discuss a joint venture with Pakistan to produce more films and organize mutual film and cultural festivals.

Aurangzeb also said that Pakistan is seeking to organize a film festival in Iran and invited Iranian filmmakers to visit the country.

She noted that Pakistan has granted a tax exemption of 70 percent on films produced in the country.  

Photo: Iranian culture minister Mohammad-Mehdi Esmaeili (2nd L) and Bangladeshi Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud (2nd R) meet in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 22, 2022.

MMS/YAW