US cultural preservation funding in Bangladesh tops USD 1 million

Dhaka: United States Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen met Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury on July 13 and reaffirmed Washington's commitment to preserving Bangladesh's cultural heritage, with total US funding for such initiatives now exceeding USD 1 million.

During a courtesy call at the Ministry of Cultural Affairs at the Bangladesh Secretariat, the two sides discussed expanding cooperation in cultural preservation, educational exchanges, arts and literature, and broader people-to-people ties between Bangladesh and the United States, according to a press release from the ministry.

Ambassador Christensen highlighted the latest USD 235,000 grant awarded under the US Embassy's Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP). The new grant brings the fund's total investment in Bangladesh to more than USD 1 million, supporting 13 cultural preservation projects over the past 25 years.

Among the flagship initiatives is the ongoing restoration of the Mughal-era Musa Khan Mosque at the University of Dhaka. The project seeks to restore the mosque's original Islamic architectural features, develop a digital archive, and provide conservation training for young architects.

Other AFCP-supported projects include the restoration of the 17th-century Shakhari Bazaar in Old Dhaka, preservation work at Lalbagh Fort, modernization of the Varendra Research Museum, and documentation of Bangladesh's intangible cultural heritage, including Baul music, Jamdani weaving, and traditional metal casting techniques.

The meeting also explored prospects for the comprehensive development of the historic Panam City in Sonargaon, as well as the possibility of organizing a joint US-Bangladesh Cultural Festival, collaborative cultural events, and structured artist exchange programs.

The ambassador also expressed interest in Bangladesh's efforts to translate the works of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, noting that the Library of Congress maintains extensive collections of world literature and would be interested in preserving Nazrul's literary works.

The US delegation included Cultural Affairs Specialist Faroha Suhrawardy, Public Diplomacy Officer Scott E. Hartmann, Press and Media Coordinator Tariqul Islam Nahin, and Protocol Assistant M B M Saad Bin Elahi. Senior officials from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs also attended the meeting.