Daily Sun | 18 April 2023

World Heritage Day, also known as International Day for Monuments and Sites, is celebrated every year on April 18th to promote cultural heritage and raise awareness about the importance of preserving historical and cultural sites. This day serves as an opportunity to appreciate the rich history and cultural heritage of our world. This year’s the theme of World Heritage Day is “Heritage Changes”. In Bangladesh, World Heritage Day is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervour. Bangladesh has a rich cultural heritage with numerous historical sites that have been recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

On World Heritage Day, various cultural events and activities are organised in Bangladesh to promote the country’s heritage and raise awareness about the importance of preserving it. Schools and universities also participate in these activities to educate the younger generation about the country’s rich cultural heritage and the need to preserve it for future generations.

The most well-known UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bangladesh is the historic mosque city of Bagerhat. Bagerhat is a small town located in the southern part of Bangladesh and is home to the famous Sixty Dome Mosque, which was built in the 15th century during the reign of the Bengal Sultanate. The mosque is one of the largest and most impressive in the country and is a prime example of Islamic architecture in the region. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bangladesh is the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world. The Sundarbans is home to the Bengal tiger, and it is also an important habitat for other rare and endangered species such as the saltwater crocodile and the Indian python. The Sundarbans also plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of the region, making it an essential site to preserve. Apart from these, there are many other historical sites in Bangladesh that are worth mentioning. The Paharpur Buddhist Monastery in the north-western part of the country is another UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates back to the 8th century. The Lalbagh Fort in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, is a 17th-century Mughal fort and a significant historical landmark in the city.

Bangladesh is home to numerous historical and cultural sites that have been recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and these sites are a testament to the country’s rich history and culture and attract thousands of tourists from all over the world every year. However, conserving these heritage sites poses significant challenges to the government and its people. First of all, one of the significant challenges in conserving heritage sites in Bangladesh is a lack of funding and resources. The government has limited resources to allocate to the conservation and preservation of heritage sites. Many of the sites are in need of restoration, and the lack of funding and resources hinders the efforts to conserve them. Another significant challenge is the lack of public awareness about the importance of heritage conservation. Many people in Bangladesh do not understand the significance of heritage sites and their contribution to the country’s history and culture. As a result, they are often neglected, and many are left in disrepair. Uncontrolled urbanisation is also a significant challenge to heritage conservation in Bangladesh. Many of the heritage sites are located in urban areas that are rapidly expanding, and the pressure of urbanisation threatens the integrity and authenticity of these sites. Development projects often ignore heritage sites, leading to their destruction or damage. Unfortunately, climate change and natural disasters are also significant challenges to heritage conservation in Bangladesh. The country is prone to natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, and earthquakes, which pose a significant threat to heritage sites. Climate change is also leading to the loss of biodiversity, which can negatively impact the ecological balance of heritage sites. Significantly, the lack of legal protection for heritage sites are very poor in our country. There are laws in place to protect heritage sites, but they are not always enforced. The lack of enforcement can lead to encroachment and damage to heritage sites.

Conserving heritage sites in Bangladesh requires a multi-faceted approach that involves the government, civil society, and the public. The government should allocate adequate funding and resources towards the conservation and preservation of heritage sites. This could include the establishment of a dedicated heritage fund, which could be used to support restoration and maintenance work. The government could also provide tax incentives to encourage private investment in heritage sites. Another essential way to conserving heritage sites in Bangladesh is controlled urbanisation. The government could introduce zoning regulations that protect heritage sites from encroachment and development. This could involve establishing buffer zones around heritage sites to restrict construction activity. Then creating public awareness about the importance of heritage conservation is critical. The government, civil society, and the private sector could work together to promote the significance of heritage sites in the country’s history and culture. This could involve the use of public campaigns, educational programs, and tourism promotions. At present, climate resilience has become crucial to conserving heritage sites in Bangladesh. The government could invest in measures to protect heritage sites from natural disasters and climate change. This could involve the use of green infrastructure, such as planting trees and vegetation, to reduce the impact of floods and other natural disasters. The government could strengthen legal protection for heritage sites by ensuring that existing laws are enforced. This could involve the establishment of a dedicated heritage protection agency, which could be responsible for monitoring and enforcing laws relating to heritage sites. Public-private partnerships could play a vital role in conserving heritage sites in Bangladesh. The private sector could invest in the restoration and maintenance of heritage sites, while the government could provide tax incentives and other forms of support. This could result in a sustainable and long-term approach to heritage conservation.

In the conclusion, World Heritage Day is an essential occasion that highlights the importance of preserving cultural heritage and historical sites. Bangladesh, with its rich cultural heritage and numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is an excellent example of the importance of preserving and protecting our cultural legacy for future generations. Again, conserving heritage sites in Bangladesh is a complex and challenging task. It requires the concerted effort of the government, civil society, and the public to ensure the preservation of these sites for future generations. Addressing the challenges of funding, public awareness, uncontrolled urbanization, climate change, and legal protection is critical to achieving this goal. With the right measures in place, Bangladesh can protect its rich cultural heritage and continue to attract visitors from all over the world.