British Council concludes Varendra Research Museum training programme

British Council, in partnership with the UK's Department for Culture, Media, and Sport, hosted a closing ceremony for the Varendra Research Museum Training Programme on 25 February 2025, at the Varendra Research Museum in Rajshahi. This initiative is part of the Cultural Protection Fund, which aims to safeguard cultural heritage and strengthen communities.

The Cultural Protection Fund is the UK's primary response to international cultural protection, focusing on areas where cultural heritage is threatened by conflict or climate change. Launched in November 2024, the Varendra Research Museum Training Programme was a four-month skill-development initiative delivered by Durham University's UNESCO Chair on Archaeological Ethics and Practice in Cultural Heritage, involving heritage professionals and collections managers at the museum.

The programme aimed to assist the Varendra Research Museum in developing a sustainable action plan to protect and preserve its significant historical and archaeological collections, as well as associated intangible and oral traditions, by fostering stronger connections with local communities.

The closing ceremony featured Professor Dr. Kazi Md. Mostafijur Rahman, Director-in-Charge, and Md. Aslam Reza, Deputy Librarian at Varendra Research Museum, as hosts. The project management and training team included Professor Robin Coningham, PhD, from Durham University, and Professor Shahnaj Husne Jahan, PhD, from the University of Liberal Arts (ULAB), Bangladesh. The Chief Guest at the event was Professor Dr. Saleh Hasan Naqib, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Rajshahi.

Stephen Forbes, Country Director of the British Council in Bangladesh, attended as the Special Guest and stated, "The UK is committed to supporting the protection and preservation of cultural heritage worldwide, and the Cultural Protection Fund is a testament to this commitment. Through our partnership with Durham University and Varendra Research Museum, we are proud to support initiatives that foster the expansion of technical skills and knowledge, promote sustainable conservation practices, and strengthen community engagement in heritage preservation through cooperation between Bangladesh and the UK."