DHAKA, Feb 16: Bangladesh Information and Cultural affairs minister Abul Kalam Azad today hoped at least cultural affairs ministers of 30 Asia pacific countries will participate in the upcoming high level international convention on cultural diversification in the capital.

The minister said it while presiding over a meeting of the national organizing committee of the convention at the Shilpakala Academy here.

Dhaka will host the three-day convention styled "Cultural Diversity Ministerial Forum of the Asia-Pacific Region- 2012" from May 9 to 11. Meeting sources said that invitation letters were sent to cultural affairs ministers of 43 countries through the foreign ministry.

Ten counties have already shown their interest to attend the high level convention while diplomatic efforts are continuing to confirm participation of the other countries.

Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Irina Bokova has also shown her interest to deliver a speech at the convention.

The venue and budget of the convention are yet to be finalised.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the progress of convention preparedness, Azad sought cooperation from all concerned authorities in expediting preparatory work to make this exceptional convention a success.

He said he would talk personally to the cultural ministers of the Asia Pacific region over phone to invite them.

The minister said cultural activities of the country would be expanded to the international arena to boost image of Bangladesh.

State Minister for CHT Affairs Dipankar Talukdar, Member of Parliament Ruby Rahman, Cultural Affairs sectary Suraiya Begum and other concerned high officials of the ministry attended the meeting.

Dipankar said he has contacted different ethnic groups of three hill districts and Mymensingh to display cultural diversity of Bangladesh during the convention.

Shilpakala Academy has already set a liaison office at its premises for the convention while eight sector based committees were formed under the national organising committee to take preparations for the prestigious international event.