British Council initiates the second stage of Varendra Research Museum expansion
The British Council, in partnership with the University of Rajshahi, Durham University, and the Varendra Research Museum, has launched the second phase of the Varendra Research Museum Training Programme. The programme, funded by the Cultural Protection Fund, aims to enhance the skills of Bangladeshi heritage professionals and empower them to protect the nation's rich history and cultural assets.
The second phase of the programme, launched virtually on July 18, 2025, will adopt a more targeted approach to training local heritage professionals. The mission of the Cultural Protection Fund is to protect cultural heritage at risk from conflict and/or climate change, contributing to sustainable social stability and economic prosperity.
The training will forge stronger connections and provide access to international opportunities in the heritage safeguarding sector. The event brought together key representatives from the training expert team, partners from the Cultural Protection Fund, the British Council, the Varendra Research Museum, and the University of Rajshahi.
The majority of the training will be conducted online, with a series of in-person workshops to be held later this year. The Bangladesh-based training team will include Professor Shahnaj Husne Jahan and Professor and Head of the General Education Program at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB). The Durham University expert training team includes Professor Robin Andrew Cunningham, Dr Emily Alden Williams, Professor Mark James Manuel, and Dr Christopher Edward Davis.
David Knox, Director of Programmes at the British Council in Bangladesh, expressed the council's deep commitment to preserving Bangladesh's cultural heritage. Professor Saleh Hasan Naqib, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Rajshahi, expressed gratitude for the British Council's Cultural Protection Fund initiative and hoped for continued strengthening of ties with the University of Durham.
The training in the second phase aims to help professionals contribute meaningfully to Bangladesh's national heritage landscape. For more information about the event and any potential updates about the second phase, visitors can check the British Council's website's Google news channel. The Cultural Protection Fund is an initiative for international cultural heritage protection, but the specific goals or projects it funds were not specified.
The first phase of the program focused on collection preservation, digital documentation, and safeguarding folk heritage. The programme's second phase, with its targeted approach, is expected to build on these foundations, ensuring the continued protection and promotion of Bangladesh's cultural heritage.
Participants in the second phase of the Varendra Research Museum Training Programme can expect to engage in online education as a significant part of their learning journey for the preservation of Bangladesh's cultural assets. This targeted approach to education-and-self-development, facilitated by the programme, is aiming to empower professionals to contribute meaningfully to Bangladesh's national heritage landscape.
