The government has launched a new project to modernise and digitise the National Archives and National Library, aiming to preserve the nation’s cultural heritage and impart the true history to future generations.
Under the project titled “Digitisation, Online Service Expansion, and Modernisation of the National Archives and the National Library,” the Department of Archives and Libraries, under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, will oversee the implementation, reports UNB.
The project, estimated to cost Tk 234.70 crore, will be entirely government-funded and is set to run from July 2025 to June 2029.
Project documents state that nearly nine crore archival and library materials will be digitised using advanced technologies like barcoding, RFID, and other digital techniques to ensure systematic preservation.
The project will also enhance the digital security of national data and improve online access to archival and library resources.
Additionally, capacity-building programmes for officers, staff of the Department of Archives and Libraries, and other relevant government offices will be conducted to improve record management.
As per the documents, various books, documents, newspapers, and magazines are constantly being accumulated, and their volume continues to grow each day.
The physical space required to store these materials is increasing, and if this growth continues, accommodating them will soon become impossible. Moreover, physical records can deteriorate over time, making them inaccessible for future generations.
The Development Project Proposal/Proforma (DPP) for this initiative has been submitted to the Bangladesh Planning Commission for approval.
Both the National Archives and the National Library are located in Dhaka, and as such, the project area is limited to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, within the Dhaka North City Corporation.
A feasibility study by the Bangladesh Computer Council in 2023 and a study by BUET in 2021 have both endorsed the project’s relevance and practicality.
Key components of the project include Tk 155 crore for data preservation, Tk 14.95 crore for fittings and fixtures, Tk 32.14 crore for fire safety equipment, Tk 6.50 crore for cameras and accessories, and Tk 4.99 crore for software procurement.
