Staff Reporter : The University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) successfully inaugurated a week-long photographic exhibition, entitled A History of Bangladesh in 25 Objects from the Collections of the Varendra Research Museum, Rajshahi, on Tuesday 2 December 2025, at its campus. Organised by the Department of General Education and the Center for Archaeological Studies of ULAB, this open-for-all exhibition, will run till Saturday 6 December 2025 every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering a unique visual journey through the nation’s rich history encompassing its diverse tangible and intangible heritage.
The exhibition is an extension of the Varendra Research Museum’s Heritage Festival that was held on 28 November 2025 in Rajshahi.
Co-curated by the Varendra Research Museum, Durham University’s UNESCO Chair on Archaeological Ethics and Practice in Cultural Heritage, and ULAB, the exhibition is supported by the British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund, in partnership with the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
ULAB’s Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Milan Kumar Bhattacharjee, Ph.D., delivered the welcome address at the inaugural ceremony.
Maarya Rehman, Deputy Director, British Council in Bangladesh, highlighting the UK’s Response to international cultural heritage protection in Bangladesh and the role of the Cultural Protection Fund, said ‘Globally, since 2016, the British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund programme has restored nearly 9,500 monuments, artifacts, and archives, and supported living traditions through 159 projects.
The fund aims to safeguard cultural heritage across many regions of the world, including South Asia. With this initiative, we are proud to have implemented the Cultural Protection Fund in Bangladesh for the very first time. This effort demonstrates that collective action from community members, government bodies, cultural organisations, and academia can make it possible to protect cultural heritage at risk from conflict or climate change. We hope that this work will preserve memory, strengthen identity, build resilience, and foster social cohesion.’
The Director of the Varendra Research Museum, University of Rajshahi, Professor Kazi Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Ph.D. discussed the Cultural Protection Fund funded ‘Capacity Strengthening Training Programme’ which took place at the Varendra Research Museum. UNESCO Chair Professor Robin Coningham, Ph.D. delivered a presentation titled ‘Breaking the Myth: Engaging Museum Professionals and Community’.
Professor Shahnaj Husne Jahan, Ph.D, Head of the Department of General Education and Director of the Center for Archaeological Studies, ULAB offered the vote of thanks.
Distinguished guests included ULAB’s former Vice Chancellor Professor Imran Rahman; Professor Emily Williams, Dr. Mark Manuel, and Dr. Christopher Davis from the Durham University, UK; Dr. Kai Weise, Advisor,
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Nepal; Mr.Aslam Reza, Deputy Librarian, Varendra Research Museum; Museum professionals, archaeologists, historians, heritage practitioners of Bangladesh and ULAB’s Deans, Heads, Directors, faculty and students.