British Council hosts cultural heritage protection meet-up in Dhaka

The British Council held a cultural heritage meet-up at its Dhaka Fuller Road office on Friday, 12 September, bringing together key stakeholders to enhance collaboration in safeguarding Bangladesh's tangible, intangible, and digital heritage.

A highlight of the event was a presentation by a visiting team from the Archaeology Department of Durham University, UK, led by Professor Robin Coningham, FSA, FRAS. The team is engaged in the Varendra Research Museum Training Programme – Phase 2 at the University of Rajshahi, supported by the Cultural Protection Fund (CPF), the UK's main response to international cultural heritage protection.

Participants included representatives from academic, cultural, and professional institutions—both national and international. Dr Susan Vise, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh, said: "The revitalisation of the Varendra Research Museum is a really important project, and it's fantastic to see what Durham University is doing in partnership with the museum, ULAB, and the British Council. This will really result in something good for all of Bangladesh in terms of upscaling and improving museum management."

Santua Tripura of Ruwang Collective Arts, an Indigenous artists' collaborative, remarked: "Being part of the Cultural Heritage Protection Meet-up filled me with a sense of shared responsibility and hope. Protecting heritage is a collective journey, and through Ruwang Collective Arts, we are committed to nurturing this spirit so that everyone who cares for cultural heritage can belong to it."

David Knox, Director Programmes Bangladesh, British Council, said: "We are pleased to host Durham University colleagues in Bangladesh for the Varendra Research Museum training programme, enhancing future museum professionals' skills. This partnership highlights Rajshahi as a centre for cultural protection in Bangladesh and South Asia."

The CPF, delivered by the British Council in partnership with the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), launched in South Asia in 2022. By supporting projects like the Varendra Research Museum initiative, the CPF is helping build capacity and resilience for sustainable cultural heritage protection in Bangladesh and beyond.