Rajshahi: A daylong heritage festival and exhibition was held today at the Varendra Research Museum (VRM) of Rajshahi University (RU), celebrating the country's rich cultural traditions, archaeological resources, and communal heritage. The event showcased traditional handicrafts alongside 25 significant artifacts from the VRM collections, as well as historical and traditional items representing Bangladesh's past.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, RU's VRM organized the festival with support from UNESCO, the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), and the British Council. RU Vice-Chancellor Prof Saleh Hasan Naqib presided over the program, which was also addressed by RU Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Farid Uddin Khan, UNESCO Chair at Durham University Prof Robin Kanigham, Dhaka University Liberal Arts Professor Shahnaz Husne Jahan, and British Council Bangladesh Country Director Stephen Favors. VRM Director Prof Kazi Mustafizur Rahman welcomed participants.
In his remarks, Prof Naqib highlighted that the traditions of the Barind tract exemplify Bangladesh's cultural diversity. He pointed out that VRM, established in 1910 as the first museum in the erstwhile East Bengal and now operated by RU, remains a popular destination, particularly for archaeology enthusiasts. Located in front of Hetamkhan Sadar Hospital in central Rajshahi, the museum preserves evidence of civilizations spanning several thousand years, including the Pala, Sena, Maurya, and Gupta periods.
The museum was founded in 1910 through the efforts of Zamindar Kumar Sarath Kumar Roy of the Dighapatia royal family of Natore, lawyer-historian Akshay Kumar Maitreya, and Ramaprasad Chandra, a teacher at Rajshahi Collegiate School. Prof Naqib added that from the late 19th century, an aware section of society became increasingly committed to preserving history, tradition, literature, and culture. This movement contributed to the establishment of the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad, which played a key role in collecting and promoting nearly forgotten literary, historical, and archaeological materials.