State Minister for Cultural Affairs K M Khalid and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Robert Miller formally launched the US-funded Lalbagh Fort cultural preservation and architectural documentation project in Old Dhaka on Wednesday.
The one-year initiative, funded through the US government's prestigious Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), supports restoring the Mughal-era Hammam Khana, one of three primary structures at the Lalbagh Fort complex dating from the 17th century.
Upon completion in 2022, both levels of the Hammam Khana will be reopened to the public.
Ambassador Miller and state minister Khalid launched a ceremonial photographic drone to formally start the work on the project and toured the ground, said a statement issued by the United States Embassy in Dhaka.
The "Restoring, Retrofitting, and 3D Architectural Documentation of Historical Mughal-era Hammam Khana at Lalbagh Fort" initiative will be led by the Ministry of Culture's Department of Archaeology, using historically authentic materials to restore architectural features and an advanced retrofitting system to improve safety and structural stability.
As part of the project, a Heritage Impact Assessment will include traditional and modern drone-based three-dimensional architectural documentation methods.
Addressing the event, Ambassador Miller said the Hammam Khana restoration project at the Lalbagh Fort complex is another testament to America's partnership with the people of Bangladesh to protect their irreplaceable cultural birthright for future generations.
"As Bangladesh celebrates the Golden Jubilee of its independence, there's no better time for our countries to further strengthen our friendship rooted in mutual respect and shared values," he noted.
Mr Miller said that there's no better time to collaborate for an inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous future for Bangladesh, adding "And there's no better time for us to work together to build on the legacy of sacrifice and devotion to freedom and justice both our peoples have fought to defend."
"Bangladesh has had no stronger more enduring partner than America and America is invested in the future of Bangladesh," he mentioned.
The AFCP, is among the US government's most significant cultural initiatives abroad.
In the past 20 years, the United States has partnered with Bangladesh to support 11 AFCP projects totaling over $576,000 to preserve and restore its cultural heritage and patrimony, including restoring a 17th-century building in Shakhari Bazaar; working with Varendra Research Museum to make its collection more accessible to the public; documenting and preserving Baul song and cultural traditions, Jamdani weaving methods, and a 2,000-year-old metal casting technique.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com