A project to restore one of three primary structures at the Lalbagh Fort complex in Dhaka was inaugurated on Wednesday.
The one-year initiative, funded through the US government’s prestigious Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), was inaugurated by State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid and United States Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller.
The project will support the restoration of the Mughal-era Hammam Khana, one of three primary structures at the fort by 2022.
The state minister and the US envoy launched a ceremonial photographic drone to formally initiate work on the project and toured the grounds, said a statement issued by the US embassy in Dhaka.
The “Restoring, Retrofitting, and 3D Architectural Documentation of Historical Mughal-era HammamKhana at Lalbagh Fort” initiative will be implemented by the Department of Archaeology under the cultural affairs ministry.
Historically authentic materials will be sued in the restoration of architectural features. Besides, an advanced retrofitting system will be used 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.
Speaking at the inauguration event Ambassador Miller described the initiative as another testament to America’s partnership with the people of Bangladesh to protect their irreplaceable cultural birthright for future generations.
“As Bangladesh celebrates its golden jubilee of independence, there’s no better time for our countries to further strengthen our friendship rooted in mutual respect and shared values. There’s no better time to collaborate for an inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous future for Bangladesh,” he added.
The Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, known as AFCP, is among the US government’s 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.
