The State Minister for Cultural Affairs, Begum Selima Rahman inaugurated the festival.

'While other countries in the world conserve their age old tradition seriously, we are drifting away from our traditional musical instruments like ektara, dotara which once created melody in our lives,' rued Selima Rahman. ' The increase in piracy in the audio visual industry will only worsen the scenario and that's why we are in the process of amending the Copyright Act. Hopefully, the Act will be passed on January 2005,' she added.

Vice President of ATN Bangla, Nawajesh Ali Khan said, 'Our audio market has turned into a big industry but faces the curse of piracy.'

On a different note, he said, ' Most of the festivals are Hindi music oriented nowadays. By promoting our own audio industry, musical companies and instrument sellers as well as by organising an array of musical programmes by the popular and famous singers, this venture will definitely create a ripple among the younger generation. They will learn to treasure their heritage.'

The representative of different musical companies and instrument sellers taking part in the festival also spoke at the occasion. He congratulated the organisers for starting the venture as well as raising the burning question of the present time piracy.

The spectators in the festival were dazzled by the productions of as many as 12 institutions' stalls in the first phase of the fair where audio and video cassettes, CDs, VCDs and musical instruments will be displayed till December 15. The second phase, comprising cultural functions, will be held from December 17 to 30.

Musical companies Soundtech, Laser Vision, CMV, Kalatan Audio Vision, Tonatuni Music, Ektar Music, instrument sellers Melody and Co, Omni Music Company and others are participating in the festival. The stalls of Nazrul Institute and ATN Bangla also attracted spectators. Viewers however, complained about the absence of our own musical instruments such as ektara, dotara, dhol and many more in the fair.

The Pepsi-Cola Ltd sponsors the festival while The Daily Star and ATN Bangla are the media partners of the festival.