National Workshop on Implementation of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Bangladesh 1 National Workshop on Implementation of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Bangladesh 3 4 National Workshop on Implementation of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Bangladesh National Workshop on Implementation of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in Bangladesh Published by Department of Archaeology Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh F-4/A, Agargaon Administrative Area Sher-e-Banglanagar, Dhaka-1207 Published in 2013 Copyright Department of Archaeology, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh All rights reserved ISBN: 978-984-33-7860-6 The ideas and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors/experts; they are not necessarily those of the Department of Archaeology and do not commit the organization. Supervision, Edition and Coordination Sharif uddin Ahmed Supernumerary Professor Department of History University of Dhaka Dhaka, Bangladesh Assistant Supervision, Edition and Coordination Shahida Khanom Project Officer, Culture UNESCO Office Dhaka, Bangladesh Design and Published by Progressive Printers Pvt. Ltd Karmojeebi Mohila Hostel Market Neelkhet, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh E-mail: [email protected] Photograph (Workshop) Tauhidun Nabi Department of Archaeology Bangladesh Printed in Bangladesh This publication has been possible through the financial assistance of UNESCO National Workshop on Implementation of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Bangladesh 5 CONTENTS Foreword 5 PART ONE: NATIONAL WORKSHOP 7 1: Introduction 7 2: Proceedings 8 2.1 Objectives of the Workshop 8 2.2 Participants of the Workshop 8 2.3 The Workshop Timetable 8 2.4 Workshop Sessions: 17 to 20 July 2013 9 2.5 Field Trip 11 2.6 Evaluation 14 2.7 Findings of the workshop for the implementation of the ICH convention 14 2.7.1 Recommendations from participants 14 2.7.2 Recommendations from Experts 16 PART TWO: CASE STUDIES AND PAPERS 17 Folk Arts and Crafts of Bangladesh— Their uniqueness in Naksha (Design Motif) 19 Md. Nawrose Fatemi Cultural Heritage: A Collection of Designs of Bangladesh 23 Masood Reza Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Paharpur Region of Naogaon District: Recommendations for Safeguarding 27 Bulbul Ahmed Nomination of Pahela Baishakh for Inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity 33 Mst. Shahida Khatun Traditional Painted Clay-made Pottery of Rajshahi: Shakher Hari 37 Rajot Kanti Roy Concept and Guidance for Compilation of a National Inventory of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Bangladesh 39 Firoz Mahmud Holding on to the Intangible: Problems and Possible Solutions 43 Lala Rukh Selim Inventory of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Bangladesh: The Concept and Context 47 Saymon Zakaria ANNEX 1: LIST OF PARTICIPANTS OF THE WORKSHOP 50 ANNEX 2: TIMETABLE 53 6 National Workshop on Implementation of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Bangladesh Nakhshi Kantha Weaving National Workshop on Implementation of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Bangladesh 7 Foreword As a part of developing and safeguarding the Intangible Cultural the concerned bodies to implement the 2003 UNESCO Convention Heritage (ICH) of Bangladesh, several attempts have been made in for the safeguarding of the ICH. We regret however to inform that recent time through cooperation of the Government of the People’s all the case studies and papers presented and prepared by the Republic of Bangladesh (GoB) and the United Nations Educational, participants could not be included in this report due to lack of space, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Dhaka Office. time and technical consideration. Some of the photographs in the The National Workshop titled Implementation of the UNESCO text have been provided by the authors for which we also thank Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural them. Heritage (ICH) in Bangladesh held from 17 to 20 July 2013 is the latest of such attempts. In Bangladesh so far attention has been It is a great honor and privilege to extend our thanks and gratitude mostly given by the government and relevant authorities to the to all those who have helped to organize the workshop and the management and safeguarding of the tangible cultural heritage. compilation of the report successfully. First of all, we would like Until recently no serious efforts have been made to safeguard the to express at this joyous moment of publication, our sincere ICH. Things now are changing and several government and non- appreciation to the former Honourable Minister for Cultural Affairs government organizations play an important role in safeguarding Mr. Abul Kalam Azad, Dr. Ranjit Kumar Biswas, Secretary and Mr. Md. the ICH in Bangladesh through documentation and research, the Safiqul Islam, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs provision of formal education, awareness-raising and protection of for their help, guidance and cooperation. the elements and sites associated with the ICH practice. However, Likewise, we would like to thank Ms. Shahida Khanom, Project Officer, Bangladesh has no strategic plan for implementing policies Culture, UNESCO, Dhaka Office for her sincere help and cooperation. pertaining to the ICH at present. We are grateful to the International Experts Dr. Harriet Deacon and Dr. In consideration of existing situation, the UNESCO Dhaka Office and Amareswar Galla and National Experts Dr. Sharif uddin Ahmed and the Department of Archaeology under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Dr. Firoz Mahmud for conducting the workshop and enlightening organized a national workshop to raise awareness and strengthen upon various aspects of the safeguarding of the ICH. the ultimate implementation of the UNESCO Convention for the We would also like to acknowledge our debt to Mr. Saymon safeguarding of the ICH of Bangladesh. Two International experts Zakaria and Vabnagar Foundation for arranging a field trip for the namely Dr. Harriet Deacon and Dr. Amareswar Galla conducted participants to Manikganj and submitting the report along with the workshop which was participated by several representatives photographs of the field trip. We also express our sincere gratitude to of government and non-government organizations. The workshop Mr. Bulbul Ahmed, Associate Professor, Department of Archaeology, was principally aimed to attain a holistic understanding of the Jahangirnagar University, Mr. Rajot Kanti Roy, Researcher and Mr. convention including its implementation at the national level. Shahriar Shaon, Photographer, Gallery Jalrong for their academic, The present publication is a report on the workshop and its activities. photographic and technical help. Further we would like to express We hope that this publication would create much awareness among our thanks and gratitude to Mr. Md. Moynul Islam and Mrs. Rakhi Roy of the Department of Archaelogy for their help and cooperation. Shirin Akhtar Director General Kiichi Oyasu Department of Archaeology Officer- in-Charge Ministry of Cultural Affairs UNESCO, Dhaka Office 8 National Workshop on Implementation of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Bangladesh Nakhshi Kantha National Workshop on Implementation of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Bangladesh 9 PART ONE NATIONAL WORKSHOP 1. Introduction It was recommended by the Convention that countries and scholars should develop inventories of the ICH in their areas, as well as work UNESCO’s Convention for the safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural with groups who maintain these ICHs to ensure their continued Heritage is a key constituent to recognize the transformative existence. UNESCO has also chalked out other intangible cultural power of cultural heritage. The activities of UNESCO in establishing programmes such as a list called ‘Proclamation of Masterpieces of normative instruments for the protection of the cultural heritage, in Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.’ As a state party of UNESCO particular the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural Bangladesh has ratified this convention in 2009. and Natural Heritage of 1972 have made remarkable impact on human development since its establishment. However, there is no Bangladesh has a rich cultural heritage and its ICH is also impressive. binding multilateral instrument as yet for the safeguarding of the Its ICH includes oral tradition, folk arts and crafts, folk songs, tribal art, intangible cultural heritage as a mainspring of cultural diversity and folk drama, folk tales, folk healing, folk games, magic, jokes, proverbs, a guarantee of sustainable development. In 2003, UNESCO adopted rhymes, rituals, art of cooking, dress, place of residence, traditional the ICH convention concerning the cultural and natural heritage that aptitude, religious festivals, customs and manners, traditions and need to be effectively enriched and supplemented by means of new beliefs. Some of these are now on the verge of extinction like many provisions relating to the intangible cultural heritage to build greater proverbs and the jokes of the Kuttis of Dhaka. awareness, especially among the younger